Entertainment
Nollywood Actor, Alex Ekubo, Dies at 40
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Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.
Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
Nnadiekwe, on the other hand, shared, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your Will — It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.”
As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death.
Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence.
The light-skinned movie star had been absent from Instagram since December 30, 2024, sparking speculation about his well-being.
However, a recent video that surfaced online brought him back into the spotlight, though it also raised further questions.
In the viral clip, Ekubo was seen interacting with a group of children, appearing noticeably slimmer and subdued.
The video, posted by user @AsakyGRN on X (formerly Twitter), was captioned, “Alex Ekubo spotted for the first time since disappearing from social media.”
The footage triggered a wave of emotional reactions from fans, many of whom noted a significant change in his appearance and questioned his wellbeing.
Before his demise, the actor dismissed marriage in favour of his quest to earn more money in the film industry.
In January 2023, his then-lover, Fancy Acholonu, in an interview, revealed that she dated the late actor for five years without them having any intimacy.
The US-based model also called off her wedding to Ekubo in December 2021, after apologising to the film star a year later for calling it off.
Acholonu affirmed her love for the actor, saying that “like our shirt says, Nothing makes sense when we’re apart @alexxekubo you still have my heart.
“I miss you, I love you, and I’m truly sorry for all the hurt & pain you and your family went through with our breakup.”
She noted that her actions were out of character, and she has realised she could have controlled her emotions and not been so overreactive.
However, in a post on his Instagram page, Ekubo implied that he was aware that some people were curious about why he has not yet been married.
The film star said he was more interested in making money. He urged people not to bother about his marital status.
The Punch
A reunion of music royalty is in the offing as two of Nigeria’s most celebrated music legends, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi and King Sunny Ade, are set to come together again as part of activities marking the 80th birthday of the KSA.
Obey is expected to lead a galaxy of veteran musicians, including Fuji musicians, Kollington Ayinla and Abass Akande Obesere, as well as other prominent personalities, to celebrate King Sunny Ade at an event in Lagos.
The celebration, tagged, “Celebrating KSA @ 80,” is scheduled to hold on September 20 at Platinum Lounge Social Club, Abule Egba, Lagos.
The gathering is expected to provide a reunion of some of the biggest names from Nigeria’s golden era of music, with the presence of Obey and Sunny Ade particularly giving the celebration a historic dimension.
For decades, Obey and Sunny Ade have remained towering figures in Nigerian music, with both legends playing roles in taking indigenous Nigerian sounds to national and international audiences.
Their reunion at KSA’s birthday celebration is expected to rekindle memories of an era when their distinctive musical styles dominated the Nigerian music scene and inspired generations of artistes.
While Obey established himself as one of the foremost figures in juju music with his unique blend of traditional sounds, social commentary and inspirational themes, Sunny Ade rose to become one of the genre’s most influential global ambassadors.
The celebration, organised by one of KSA’s sons, Biodun Adeniyi Adegeye, otherwise known as PSA1, will also feature other names in the Nigerian music industry including Wale Thompson, Mega 99, Baba Ajasco, Ajobiewe, among others. They are expected to add their own touch to what promises to be a memorable gathering of musical giants.
Beyond the music, the event is expected to celebrate Sunny Ade’s journey, longevity and immense contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry.
KSA has enjoyed a career spanning several decades, during which he transformed juju music into a globally recognised Nigerian musical export.
Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemates Abi and Araga has been evicted from the reality TV show, becoming the latest housemates to leave the ‘Show Ya Sef’ edition.
Abi and Araga’s eviction was announced during the live eviction show on Sunday as the competition enters another stage.
Their exit comes after the previous eviction round saw Gerard sent out of the competition.
Before Gerard, the show had witnessed the evictions of Martins, Mercedes, Kamsy, Cassi, Sultex and Goddessa, while Neche voluntarily left the competition.
The competition also recorded a major development during the week when Nomy was disqualified from the show.
With Abi and Araga’s eviction and Nomy’s disqualification, the ‘Show Ya Sef’ house is now left with 14 housemates battling for the grand prize as the season progresses towards its final stages.
The ‘Show Ya Sef’ edition premiered on July 26, 2026, with 24 housemates competing for a ₦160 million grand prize.
Country music icon, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80, according to multiple reports, including The Independent, The Guardian and Sky News.
Parton’s death was reportedly announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on Instagram on Tuesday.
“I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.
“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness,” Seaver said.
Parton, who rose from humble beginnings in Tennessee to become one of country music’s most celebrated singer-songwriters, had a career spanning more than six decades.
She sold more than 100 million records globally and became known as the “Queen of Country”, with hits including “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”.
Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards. She was also a successful actor, appearing in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise.
Born on January 19, 1946, in a two-room log cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children.
Her father was an illiterate sharecropper who later worked his way up to owning a small tobacco farm. Parton described her family as “dirt poor” but credited her mother with passing on her love and knowledge of traditional folk ballads and her father for his work ethic.
Parton began performing as a child. By the age of 13, she had appeared on local radio and television in East Tennessee, performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and recorded her first single, “Puppy Love”.
After graduating from high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville the following day and began establishing herself as a songwriter.
She released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967, the same year she joined the weekly television programme The Porter Wagoner Show. Wagoner, an established country star, mentored Parton, and the pair released a series of successful albums as a duo.
In 1973, Parton decided to concentrate on her solo career and wrote “I Will Always Love You” about their professional separation. The song became a hit for Parton and was later famously recorded by Whitney Houston for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Parton also wrote “Jolene”, one of her signature songs, around the same period. Both songs were included on her 1974 album Jolene, which helped introduce her to a wider audience beyond country music.
Her 1977 album, Here You Come Again, became her first to sell a million copies and earned her first Grammy Award after almost a decade of nominations.
In 1980, Parton made her acting debut alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the workplace comedy 9 to 5. She also wrote and performed the film’s theme song, which became a number one hit and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
The film’s success helped launch Parton’s acting career, with roles in films including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Steel Magnolias (1989) and Joyful Noise (2012).
Parton also built a business empire that included television specials, food products and Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park she acquired an interest in and renamed in 1986.
Beyond music and acting, she was known for her philanthropy, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, which promotes childhood literacy.
She also supported medical research, disaster relief and other charitable causes, including donating $1 million towards COVID-19 vaccine research.
In 2022, she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
“I just give from my heart. I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m gonna do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it, then I will,” she said at the time.
Parton’s health concerns became public in September 2025 when she postponed her Las Vegas residency. In recent weeks, she had also withdrawn from public appearances amid ongoing health issues.
Parton’s death comes months after the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
The couple married in 1966.
