{{Short description|Nigerian blogger (born 1982)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Tunde Ednut | birth_name = Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Katsina, Nigeria | occupation = {{hlist|Blogger|musician}} | education = {{plainlist| * University of Lagos * University of London }} | years_active = 2007–present }} '''Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle''' (born 20 January 1982), popularly known as '''Tunde Ednut''', is a Nigerian blogger, influencer, entertainer and musician noted for his blog and songs "Jingle Bell" and "Catching Cold", which was a Headies award nominee for best pop single at The Headies Awards of 2013. He is widely regarded as one of the most prominent bloggers in Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2021 |title=Who be Tunde Ednut and wetin fit make Instagram ban am twice? (meaning, who is Tunde Ednut and what made Instagram ban him twice?) |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-55650254 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=BBC News In Pidgin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abimboye |first=Micheal |date=5 December 2013 |title=Olamide, Davido, Iyanya top Headies Award 2013 nomination |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/150898-olamide-davido-iyanya-top-headies-award-2013-nomination.html |access-date=2023-01-10 |newspaper=Premium Times |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=21 Amapiano Songs By Artists From Outside South Africa To Stream Right Now |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/amapiano-songs-from-outside-south-africa/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Okay Africa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Headies |first=The |date=25 October 2013 |title=The Headies 2013: Full List of Nominees – The Headies |url=https://theheadies.com/the-headies-2013-full-list-of-nominees/,%20https://theheadies.com/the-headies-2013-full-list-of-nominees/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=The Headies |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2021, Ednut was named the Most ‘Searched Media Personality’ at the Net Honours Class of 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiemeke |first=Jerry |date=20 June 2021 |title=NET Honours: Tunde Ednut Named Most Searched Media Personality |url=https://thenet.ng/net-honours-class-of-2021-tunde-ednut-named-most-searched-media-personality/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=The NET |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=George Mensah |date=21 June 2021 |title=NET Honours 2021; Tunde Ednut Named 'Most Searched Media Personality' |url=https://gbafrica.net/net-hnours-2021-tunde-ednut-named-most-searched-media-personality/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=GBAfrica |language=en-US}}</ref> In that same year, he was listed by ''Ynaija'' as one of the most powerful young Nigerians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okafor |first=Chinedu |date=1 September 2021 |title=#YNaijaPowerList2021: Davido, Ola Brown, Tacha, Dare Adekoya, Tunde Ednut listed among most powerful young Nigerians |url=https://ynaija.com/ynaijapowerlist2021-davido-ola-brown-tacha-dare-adekoya-tunde-ednut-listed-among-most-powerful-young-nigerians/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=YNaija |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Originally from Kogi State, Tunde Ednut was born in Katsina State, Northern Nigeria, to Nigerian Christian lecturers, where he grew up before his family eventually relocated to Lagos State. He studied Graphic arts at the University of Lagos. Afterwards, he moved to the UK to obtain a degree in Graphic design from Kingsland University of London in England.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiemeke |first=Jerry |date=17 July 2021 |title=Tunde Ednut: The Graphic Designer Who Became One of Nigeria's Biggest Influencers |url=https://thenet.ng/tunde-ednut-the-graphic-designer-who-became-one-of-nigerias-biggest-influencers/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=The NET |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== 2007–2008: Beginnings === Ednut first started out as a comedian in 2007, where he was a guest performer at the Dyanmix Awards in Nigeria, and caught the attention of medias. In 2008, he was nominated for The Future Awards Africa. Same year, Ednut began performing across Nigeria, and subsequently performed in the United Kingdom where he is most noted for his comic works, Ednut was honored with The Award for the Best Nigerian Comedian in the UK before he moved back to Nigeria to pursue a career in music.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walubengo |first=Peris |date=29 July 2022 |title=Tunde Ednut's biography: age, height, real name, net worth, songs |url=https://www.legit.ng/1398646-tunde-ednut-biography-age-height-real-net-worth-songs.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=Legit.ng |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=omotolani |date=20 January 2017 |title=Timi Dakolo, Teju Babyface, Tunde Ednut, Lola Rae are a year older today |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/celebrity-birthdays-timi-dakolo-teju-babyface-tunde-ednut-lola-rae-are-a-year-older/j8cge7s |access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref>
=== 2011–present === Ednut started his musical career in 2011 with his debut single "My Kind Song".<ref>{{Cite web |last=BellaNaija.com |title=New Video: Tunde Ednut – My Kinda Song |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2011/04/new-video-tunde-ednut-my-kinda-song/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Bella Naija |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, he released "Catching Cold" with a remix featuring Dr SID. In 2014, he released 3 songs which includes "Baby Boo", "Buga Won" and "Kosowo". In 2016, he would go on and release "Jingle Bell" which had multiple remixes with fellow Nigerian stars, Mi Abaga, Davido, Tiwa Savage and Seun Kuti.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Still On Tunde Ednut's Music Career |url=https://independent.ng/still-on-tunde-ednuts-music-career/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Independent}}</ref> his musical credits include collaborations with Falz, Ice Prince, Orezi and more.
== Controversy == On 22 December 2020, Ednut's verified Instagram account with over 2.6 million followers was deactivated. According to the ''Peoples Gazette'', he violated the app's community guidelines which led to the removal of his account from the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Again, Instagram delete's Tunde Ednut's account |url=https://gazettengr.com/again-instagram-deletes-tunde-ednuts-account/ |location=Abuja, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=Peoples Gazette}}</ref>
On 10 January 2021, Ednut created a new Instagram account, with the username ''Kingtundeednut''. And as at the early hours of Wednesday 13 January, he had already garnered 1 million followers, that became a trending topic on Twitter. Same day, Ednut did a 1 million Nigerian naira giveaway to his fans in celebration of his comeback to the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2021 |title=Instagram Deletes Popular Blogger Tunde Ednut's Page For The Second Time |url=https://guardian.ng/life/instagram-deletes-popular-blogger-tunde-ednuts-page-again/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-20 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en-US}}</ref> Three days after he accomplished 1 million followers, the account was however deactivated again due to several reports from unknown persons. Same month, Instagram reinstated Ednut's account after fellow Nigerian stars rallied support asking that the account should be restored.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2021 |title=Tunde Ednut's Instagram account suspended again – after hitting 1m followers in 3 days |url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/tunde-ednuts-instagram-account-suspended-again-after-hitting-1m-followers-in-3-days/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |newspaper=TheCable |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Ednut's Instagram was disabled by Meta with 7.5M fans. He, however created another page which has earned up to 2.2M fans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/why-tunde-ednuts-7-5m-instagram-account-was-deactivated-activist-verydarkman/|title= Why Tunde Ednut's 7.5M Instagram account was deactivated|newspaper=The Punch}}</ref>
== Legacy == Aside from music and blogging, Ednut helps or supports upcoming comedians and musicians by posting their videos and skits on his Instagram page. He has been credited for supporting or helping in popularizing comedians and artists such as Mr Funny, VeryDarkMan, Ugoccie, Aloma Isaac Junior, Ola of Lagos, Sydney Talker, and Kiriku.<ref>{{Cite news |title=I Would Be Eternally Grateful To Tunde Ednut- Aloma Isaac Junior |url=https://independent.ng/i-would-be-eternally-grateful-to-tunde-ednut-aloma-isaac-junior/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 March 2019 |title=I've been crazy since I was a kid –Sydney Talker |url=https://punchng.com/ive-been-crazy-since-i-was-a-kid-sydney-talker/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=The Punch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2022 |title=Fan accused me of using mum for rituals — Ugoccie |url=https://punchng.com/fan-accused-me-of-using-mum-for-rituals-ugoccie/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=The Punch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2022 |title=Kiriku writes Tunde Ednut, pours out his mind |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/arts-2/kiriku-writes-tunde-ednut-pours-out-his-mind/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nwafor |date=26 March 2022 |title=How Kiriku is making a mark as gifted kid comic actor |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/how-kiriku-is-making-a-mark-as-gifted-kid-comic-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-01-19 |newspaper=Vanguard |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ednut, Tunde}} Category:Living people Category:1986 births Category:Nigerian musicians Category:Nigerian bloggers Category:University of Lagos alumni Category:Alumni of the University of London