Entertainment
Veteran Kannywood Actor, Malam Nata’ala Is Dead
The Hausa-film industry has been struck by fresh sorrow with the passing of renowned actor Malam Nata’ala (also known as Mata Na Mato), a native of Potiskum, Yobe State.
Reports are that the veteran actor died after a long-standing illness. Naija News reports that Malam Nata’ala rose to prominence for his role as an almajiri-school teacher in the popular Arewa24 drama series Dadin Kowa.
Before his death, he had publicly appealed for help, posting online that he was battling a serious health condition and seeking financial assistance for medical bills.
In August 2025, Malam Nata’ala disclosed his struggle with cancer, revealing the grim reality of his health and his plea for both prayers and financial support:
“I am battling a serious illness… I need your prayers and cooperation, including financial help,” Nata’ala had appealed.
At the time, he indicated that every three weeks, he was spending approximately ₦250,000 on injections, not including medication or hospital bed costs.
His social media posts notably garnered international attention when the President of Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, stepped in and donated ₦27 million to support his treatment.
Malam Nata’ala, born Mata Yakubu in Potiskum, Yobe State, became widely loved for his portrayals of humble teachers and community figures. His role in the series “Dadin Kowa” cemented his status as a household name in Northern Nigeria.
Friends and colleagues remember him not only for his talent but for his humility and willingness to engage with his fans.
Naija News reports that Nata’ala’s public call for help revealed a rare vulnerability in an industry where many actor health stories remain hidden, sparking renewed discussion about welfare and support for film practitioners.
News of his passing triggered an outpouring of grief across the Kannywood community, with many expressing concern over how entertainers in the region cope with serious illness and the lack of official social safety nets.
Entertainment
What You Did Was Barbaric – Rarara Blasts Davido Over FIFA Performance
Famous Hausa praise singer Dauda Adamu Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara, has accused Afrobeats singer Davido of destroying Nigeria’s image. Daily voice reports that the singer stated this while reacting to a recent performance by Davido at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert.
During the concert, Davido appeared in a jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home” and featuring the names of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
Reacting in a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Rarara argued that Davido’s action projected Nigeria’s image in a bad light.
He described the action as barbaric, warning that it could damage the country’s image.
Rarara said, “I do not usually reply or react to issues like this, but what Davido did was barbaric. In my opinion, Davido and those who share his way of thinking are only behaving foolishly.
“How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world? How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country’s image? What exactly do you stand to gain from doing that?
“Davido took the names of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, wrote them on the Nigerian flag and displayed it in America. What was the purpose? What did he hope to achieve? Or was it because he had turned the matter into politics?”
The Hausa praise singer alleged that the Afrobeats singer was only out to canvass support for his uncle, who is contesting an election on the platform of the Accord Party, and to paint the current administration black.
“Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord party and Tinubu is in APC? Is that why insecurity must become a campaign tool? Anyone who campaigns with insecurity is insane, because he does not fully understand what it entails.
“What Davido did is similar to removing his own mother’s wrapper, taking a photograph of her and travelling to America to display it for the whole world to see, only to ask people to help cover her up again. What kind of thinking is that?” he said.
He warned that security matters are delicate and should not be handled casually without a proper understanding of the situation on the ground, claiming that the abduction of the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers followed the arrest of some terrorists by security operatives.
“Insecurity is not something people should casually jump into. There are facts and circumstances that ordinary members of the public may not know. Before speaking on such matters, one should understand the situation properly.
“Did Davido know the reason behind the abduction of those schoolchildren? Some terrorists were arrested. When efforts to secure their release failed, the kingpins kidnapped innocent people in an attempt to force the authorities to negotiate.
“The President and security agencies had vowed that the terrorists would not be released and that the children would be rescued. It was during this delicate period that Davido chose to embarrass us on a global stage.
“You cannot go to China and promote issues the authorities do not want promoted. The same applies in many other countries. There are limits. But some of our content creators continue to promote narratives that, in my opinion, end up helping terrorists.
“Some content creators do not understand the implications of what they are doing, while others do. Some are sponsored by politicians, while others are simply chasing engagement and followers,” he said.
Entertainment
The Grammys Are Changing The Rules In 2027, Here Are The Biggest Updates Artists Should Know
The Recording Academy has announced new categories and several rule changes ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards. Best New Artist eligibility has been expanded, while members can now vote in more categories through a new Ballot Plus option. The updates also include changes to album eligibility and greater recognition for songwriters and composers.
The Recording Academy has announced a set of updates to the Grammy Awards ahead of the 69th ceremony, which is scheduled to air on February 7, 2027. The changes touch everything from how new artists qualify to how voters cast their ballots, and a few of them are significant enough to reshape who gets nominated and who gets recognised.
This is the headline change. Previously, an artist could only be submitted for Best New Artist consideration a maximum of three times across their career. That limit has now been raised to four. Why does it matter? Because under the old rules, some artists who have been building their careers steadily over several years were getting locked out of the category by the time they broke through big enough to be genuine contenders.
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Billboard noted that likely frontrunners for the next cycle, including Ella Langley and Megan Moroney, may not have been eligible under the previous limit. The extra submission buys developing artists more runway.
Five new categories are being added
Best Asian Pop Music Performance is the most significant new addition. It covers K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian pop formats performed meaningfully in Asian languages. Given how dominant K-pop has become globally, this has been a long time coming.
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance splits what was previously a single R&B performance category into two. Going forward, solo R&B performances compete separately from collaborative ones. Best R&B Solo Performance is the renamed version of what existed before.
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Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance carves out a lane for classic, old-school pop that does not fit comfortably alongside contemporary pop sounds. Think standards, torch songs, that kind of thing.
Best Traditional Folk Album does the same for folk music, separating heritage folk recordings from the more contemporary folk and Americana sound. The existing Best Folk Album category becomes Best Contemporary Folk Album.
Best Latin Song rounds out the additions, recognising songwriters specifically, not performers, behind newly written Spanish-language Latin songs.
Voters can now cover more ground
Members need to submit verified professional credits to qualify. Those who do not opt in simply stay on the existing ballot structure.
A few other notable tweaks
Songwriters and composers will now receive Grammy statuettes when their albums win genre categories, putting them on equal footing with producers and engineers who already received that recognition.
It is a small but meaningful acknowledgment of a group that has historically been overlooked in how the awards are physically distributed.
Entertainment
Actor Baba Ijesha Welcomes Baby Boy
Actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has announced the birth of his son.
The actor disclosed this in an Instagram post on Monday, sharing a maternity photoshoot featuring himself and his wife.
Expressing gratitude to God, Baba Ijesha revealed that the couple welcomed a baby boy named King Kagar Omiyinka.
He wrote, “In quiet ways, in unseen ways, God has been writing a story only He could tell. We thank the Almighty for blessing us with a healthy baby boy.
“God gave me more than I prayed for. My ever beautiful wife, strong Jagaban, Abikese de mi owo, @ceolumineeofficial, who became the mother of my son, King Kagar Omiyinka.”
The announcement attracted congratulatory messages from fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
Baba Ijesha was released from prison in November 2025 after serving a jail term following his conviction in a child sexual assault case.
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