Former U.S. President Barack Obama has released his 2025 list of favorite books, movies, and music, featuring Nigerian Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Olamide.
Burna Boy’s Tatata and Olamide’s 99 made the list alongside Obongjayar’s Not In Surrender and tracks by global stars such as Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lady Gaga, and Drake, highlighting the continued global influence of Afrobeats.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has released his annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music for 2025, with Nigerian Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Olamide making the cut.
Burna Boy’s “Tatata” (featuring Travis Scott) and Olamide’s “99” (featuring Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake, and Young John) were featured alongside British-Nigerian singer Obongjayar’s “Not In Surrender.” Other global names on the list include Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lady Gaga, and Drake.
Sharing the collection on X, Obama wrote: “As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy.”
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out! pic.twitter.com/T9LFt5fnKG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 18, 2025
In other news…. Former Big Brother Naija housemate and media personality, Natacha Akinde, widely known as Tacha, has called out content creator Lawrence Alabi for allegedly turning the arrest of an upcoming creator and social media troll into online content.
The individual, identified on 𝕏 as “Small Ralph” (@Churlah) and popularly called “Banger Boy,” is known for his frequent trolling and online attacks.
According to reports by GistLover, the situation started after Lawrence Alabi reportedly had “Banger Boy” arrested over claims of cyberbullying and defamatory statements directed at him and his wife.
While many Nigerians agreed that Alabi was justified in seeking legal action, reactions shifted after videos showing the arrest of “Banger Boy” began circulating online. Several social media users expressed discomfort, describing the incident as humiliating.
Reacting via her 𝕏 account, Tacha condemned the public handling of the arrest, stressing that although the law should take its course, public humiliation was unnecessary and dangerous. She also criticised the tendency of some Nigerians to use power or influence to oppress others once they attain success.
She wrote:
“We are the biggest hypocrites to ever exist. We can all agree that the Nigerian dream is to make it well enough to oppress another Nigerian.
“You live in the uk you know with a billion pounds you can’t do this.
“Sue the boy; I don’t care. But what you won’t do is humiliate him.
“If anybody can get me the boy’s contact, send a DM or drop a comment. We will get him out, and the boy in question will still face the law. But what you won’t do is humiliate him.”
