Entertainment

‘Rare find’: amphitheatre dig in Kent paints picture of Roman town

A big night out for the people of the Roman settlement at Richborough on the Kent coast about 2,000 years ago might have involved gladiatorial contests, wild beast hunting or the occasional execution of a criminal.

Taking place in a vast amphitheatre, seating up to 5,000 people, on the western edge of the settlement, such an event was a “special occasion, drawing people from Richborough town and its surrounds”, said Paul Pattison, a senior properties historian at English Heritage. “These were public spectacles, the equivalent of going to a big blockbuster film, in our terms.”

Centuries later, a new window into those times has emerged during an archaeological excavation at the site over recent weeks.

Among the discoveries is a skeleton of a cat, nicknamed Maxipus by the excavation team, which was buried in an area of domestic settlement and is believed to have been a pet.

“Normally you would expect it to have been dismembered by predators but it’s almost complete, so it looks like it was deliberately placed where it wasn’t disturbed,” said Pattison.

People were likely to have had pet animals, but “they weren’t quite as soppy as we are about them. Whether they had them in the house is probably debatable.”

Other finds include a small “carcer”, or cell with a doorway, that was probably used to hold wild animals and people before being released into the arena.

The excavation, delayed from last year because of Covid restrictions, began in mid-September and is due to finish next month. “We knew the amphitheatre was there because of a partial excavation in 1849. We had a clue, but only a clue – so we wanted to find out more,” said Pattison.

The remains of the amphitheatre are on a low but prominent hill with an oval-shaped depression, close to one of the most important Roman historical sites in England. The settlement dates from the Roman invasion in AD43 to the end of Roman rule in about 410.

Part of Emperor Claudius’s 40,000-strong invasion forces came ashore at Richborough, known as Rutupiae to the Romans, which became the main entry point from mainland Europe. A busy town grew up around the port.

In the past few weeks, excavators have discovered details of how the amphitheatre was constructed. The exterior wall was up to six metres thick and made of stacked turf, and the interior wall around the arena was made of locally quarried chalk blocks.

“Really significantly, we’ve discovered that they rendered the inside of the wall that was facing into the arena, and then plastered it. And there are traces of paint on the arena wall,” said Pattison.

“We are beginning to think there was a series of painted rectangular panels, because there are vertical and horizontal lines in red, yellow, black and blue. They probably originally contained painted scenes, perhaps figurative scenes of what happens in amphitheatres.

“We don’t have that detail yet, but we have the paint and that’s a really good start. Given that we’ve only excavated a tiny fragment of the wall, it bodes well for better-preserved painted scenes elsewhere around the circuit. So we’re pretty excited.”

None of the other 15 or 16 amphitheatres discovered in Britain had this treatment, Pattison said. “This is a very rare find in Britain. There may be about 19 or 20 in the whole Roman empire.”

Excavators have also unearthed coins, items of personal adornment, pottery fragments and the bones of butchered animals, all providing evidence that the town of Richborough was occupied by civilians right through the Roman period in Britain.

The recent discoveries “dramatically increase our understanding of the structure of the amphitheatre and the nature of the adjacent settlement”, Pattison said, adding that further excavations in the future would help build a more accurate picture of how the settlement developed and grew.

The excavators were “absolutely hyped” about their finds, he said. “Everyone’s highly motivated and looking forward to digging every day. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to excavate a site of this kind.”

The on-site museum at Richborough is being refurbished over the winter and is due to reopen to the public in the summer of 2022.

Entertainment

VeryDarkMan re-arraigned over alleged cyberbullying

The Inspector-General of Police has re-arraigned social media influencer, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of cyberbullying actresses Iyabo Ojo, Tonto Dikeh, and music producer Samuel ‘Samklef’ Oguachuba.

Otse was re-arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on cyberstalking and the alleged dissemination of offensive content through his social media platforms. He, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His counsel, Deji Adeyanju, prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue on the earlier bail granted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a sister court.

The prosecution counsel representing the Inspector-General of Police, Victor Okoye, did not oppose the application.

Justice Liman subsequently admitted the defendant to the previous bail terms and adjourned the matter until 24 July 2025 for the commencement of the trial.

VDM was initially arraigned on 22 May 2024 before Justice Olajuwon on the same offences, which are contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

Following his remand, he was granted bail on 10 June 2024 to the sum of ₦10 million, with two sureties — either employees of reputable organisations or federal civil servants of not less than Level 17, with evidence of three years’ tax clearance.

However, the case was reassigned to Justice Liman following the transfer of Justice Olajuwon to another division of the Federal High Court.

Count-by-Count Allegations
According to the charge sheet, in Count One, Otse was alleged to have, on or about 13 October 2023, posted a video on his Instagram account (@verydarkblackman) containing threatening and bullying statements directed at Samklef.

In Count Two, he was accused of intentionally posting, on or about 29 October 2023, videos containing offensive, pornographic, indecent, obscene, or menacing content targeting actress Iyabo Ojo.

In the said video, he allegedly claimed that “one Iyabo Ojo is having an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”

Count Three alleges that, on or about 19 January 2024, VDM falsely published via Instagram that actress Tonto Dikeh had diverted proceeds from a crowdfunding campaign for the “Justice for Mohbad” movement and that she was the person behind the anonymous blog ‘Gistlover.’

In Count Four, Otse was alleged to have, on or about 19 March 2024, intentionally posted content considered annoying and insulting towards Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and members of the National Assembly.

The trial is expected to begin in July.

Entertainment

AMVCA 2025: Full winners list

The 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards spotlighted some of the most outstanding talents in African film.

Seven Doors and Lisabi: The Uprising led the night, with Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka winning Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively, while Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji’s Lisabi clinched Best Indigenous Language Film.

Full Winners List
Best Movie:
Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa):
Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji

Best Lead Actor:
Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo

Best Lead Actress:
Seven Doors — Chioma Chukwuka

Best Supporting Actor:
Inside Life — Gabriel Afolayan

Best Supporting Actress:
Farmer’s Bride — Mercy Aigbe

Best Cinematography:
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos — Leo Purman

Best Sound Design:
Suspicion — Michael Botha and Olaosebikan Okonrende

Best Editing:
Inkabi — Tongai Furusa

Best Score/Music:
Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro

Best Art Direction:
Lisabi: The Uprising — Solihull Badu Noutical and Ayanmo Yakub

Best Make-Up:
Lisabi: The Uprising — Hakeem Onilogbo

Best Writer (Movie):
Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi

Best Costume Design:
Christmas in Lagos — Adedamola Adeyemi

Best Writing (TV Series):
Untying Kantai — Abel Mutua Musyoka

Best Documentary:
Dundun — Ifeoluwa Fatogun and Ebi Atawodi

Best Series (Scripted):
Inside Life — Clarence Peters

Best Director:
The Man Died — Awam Amkpa

Trailblazer Award:
Kayode Kasum

Industry Merit Awards:
Sani Mu’azu and Nkem Owoh

The ceremony balanced celebration of emerging creatives with recognition of Nollywood legends, marking another defining year in African cinema.

Entertainment

Comedian AY Makun confirms EFCC invitation

One Nigeria’s top comedians, Ayo ‘AY’ Makun, has confirmed he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, earlier this week for the public spraying of local and foreign currencies.

AY took to Instagram to share the videos of the incident that led to his invitation.

He then urged Nigerians to respect the Naira and also foreign currencies by giving money responsibly at events.

“I am grateful to God for His mercy and guidance. On Monday, I was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding an incident involving the public spraying of both local and foreign currencies — an act that has been classified as an offense related to the abuse of the Naira,” AY wrote.

“I want to sincerely thank the EFCC and all authorities involved for their understanding and for granting me pardon based on confirmation that the money being sprayed is not linked to the proceeds of crime or any form of illicit funds.

He added: “To my friends, family, and the general public: We all know that spraying money at public events is a practice common in Nigerian celebrations, especially during weddings, funerals, and parties. It is generally considered a cultural tradition rather than a criminal act. But let me attach some slides to this post on the DOS AND DON’T.

“It is important to understand that mutilating or abusing the Naira — whether by spraying, tearing, defacing, or mishandling—is not just a cultural practice but also a violation of Nigerian law. Such acts undermine the integrity of our national currency and can have serious legal consequences.”