Entertainment
Country Music Legend, Kenny Rogers Dies at 81
Kenny Rogers, the country musician behind such hits as “The Gambler” and “Lady” over a six-decade career, has died at the age of 81, his family announced early Saturday.
“Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” according to a statement from his management firm, SKH Music.
His family plans a small private service due to the coronavirus outbreak, the statement said.
Rogers is well-known for hits like “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me” and “Through the Years.”
The three-time Grammy winner and county music icon Dolly Parton were frequent collaborators and paired to make some of country music’s most enduring duets, including “Islands in the Stream,” “Love is Strange,” “Real Love,” and “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”
Rogers announced in 2015 that after spending more than 50 years in the business, he planned to retire and told NBC’s “Today” then that he was saying goodbye.
“I’ve done this long enough,” the Texas native said, adding that he wanted to spend more time with his children.
Rogers had 24 number-one hits over his career and is a six-time County Music Association winner. He had Grammy awards and was nominated 19 times.
The entertainer was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year he was awarded the County Music Association’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nigerian Grammy Award-winning artiste, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has declared that he is bigger than Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the father of Afrobeats musician, Seun Kuti.
Wizkid made the claim on Tuesday amid ongoing feud with Seun Kuti.
In a series of Instagram posts on Tuesday, Wizkid mocked Seun Kuti, claiming he has surpassed Fela in status.
He wrote: “Pussy boy Ebigbirdkuti ok I big pass your papa!! Wetin u one do? Fool at 40!”
In another story he wrote, “I’m big wiz everyday bigger than your papa! Wetin you wan do?”
Wizkid also took the feud to X, where he accused Seun Kuti of being a bastard who is fighting with his fan base, unlike his father, who fought for freedom while alive.
He tweeted: “Fela fight for freedom this fool Dey fight fc! Oloshi Omo ale!”
The outburst followed Seun Kuti’s recent rejection of comparisons between Wizkid and his late father, which he described as disrespectful and rooted in ignorance.
Speaking during an Instagram livestream, Seun warned Wizkid’s fanbase, popularly known as Wizkid FC, to stop portraying the singer as a modern-day Fela.
“Wizkid FC, keep Fela’s name out of your mouths. You try to claim that your fake artiste is the new Fela. When you saw that the shoes were too big to fill and people like me didn’t allow you to get away with those insults, you became uncomfortable. It is actually an insult to compare Wizkid to Fela,” Kuti said.
He accused the fanbase of lacking respect and acting out of ignorance rather than defiance.
“You people have no respect. If your lack of respect came from a place of defiance, I would respect it. But your lack of respect comes from a place of ignorance,” he added.
Seun further criticised what he described as the overzealous behaviour of some fans, saying online rivalries were harming the Nigerian music industry.
“Wizkid fans are online disrespecting Fela again. Why must you always involve Fela in your petty discussions? The overzealousness of some fans has significantly affected the music industry. Some artistes can’t even collaborate because of fan rivalries,” he said.
He went on to label Wizkid FC “the most ignorant fanbase in the world,” urging them to focus on enjoying their preferred artiste’s music without constant comparisons.
“Concentrate on your artiste. Can’t you enjoy the music without comparing it to something else? Do you know why you can’t enjoy your artiste’s music without comparisons? It’s because the music does not fill your spirit. You can pretend to enjoy it, but spiritually, you are not satisfied,” Kuti stated.
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The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, has been thrown into mourning following the sudden and tragic passing of actress and producer Allwell Ademola.
The 43-year-old actress reportedly died on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the entertainment community and her legion of fans.
According to multiple reports from within the film industry, the tragic event unfolded at Ademola’s residence, where she is said to have suffered a sudden heart attack.
She was swiftly rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical efforts were unable to save her life. The unexpected nature of her death, at such a relatively young age, has been a primary source of the widespread shock and disbelief.
News of her passing ignited an immediate and emotional outpouring of tributes on social media from heartbroken colleagues, highlighting the deep bonds within the Nollywood community and the high esteem in which she was held.
Fellow actress Faithia Williams expressed her raw grief on Instagram, writing: “Haaaa. This hit me so bad. Eniobanke. Allahu Akbar..Allwell.” Her post encapsulated the stunned reaction of many.
Actress Mide Martins marked the day as a “BLACK SATURDAY……” on Facebook, accompanying a photo of Ademola with the anguished plea, “This is not fair. May God forgive your shortcomings Allwell.”
Actor Damola Olatunji shared a somber, philosophical note with a candlelight image, captioning it simply, “Life is a mirage.”
The disbelief was palpable in the reaction of actress Bidemi Kosoko, who fervently rejected the initial reports: “No way. No, no,, no. Ko possible ooo. This isn’t true. God forbid, in Jesus’ name… I refuse to accept this one Lai Lai God forbid… Just reply to my message, abeg Oremi/ aunty mi. I will wait patiently for your reply.”
Allwell Ademola was a prominent figure in the Yoruba-language sector of Nollywood, known for her compelling performances and her work behind the camera as a producer.
Her sudden departure has left a significant void in the industry, prompting a period of collective mourning and reflection on her contributions to Nigerian cinema. Details regarding funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
