Entertainment
Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Dies at 68 After Battle With Cancer
Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Dies at 68 After Battle With Cancer
The global hip-hop community has been thrown into mourning following the death of legendary DJ and cultural pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, who has died at the age of 68.
His death was confirmed by the Hip Hop Alliance, which described him as a foundational figure who helped shape hip-hop into a global cultural movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and fun.
According to multiple reports, including entertainment outlet TMZ, Bambaataa died on Thursday in Pennsylvania from complications linked to cancer.
Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, New York, Bambaataa rose from the post-industrial streets of the Bronx during the 1970s, a period widely regarded as the birthplace of hip-hop culture. His early exposure to the Black liberation movement heavily influenced his artistic and political worldview.
In 1973, he co-founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international collective dedicated to promoting hip-hop as a tool for peaceful expression, youth empowerment, and cultural identity. The movement played a major role in shaping the global spread of hip-hop culture across music, dance, and street art.
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Before his musical breakthrough, Bambaataa was once affiliated with the Black Spades gang, but later redirected his influence toward community organisation and cultural activism, helping steer young people away from violence.
His 1982 single “Planet Rock” became a defining moment in hip-hop history, blending electronic sounds with rap and helping pioneer what would later influence genres such as electro, techno, and modern dance music.
The Hip Hop Alliance praised his impact, with executive director Reverend Dr Kurtis Blow Walker describing him as central to transforming the Bronx into “the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world.”
Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Bambaataa collaborated with influential figures including James Brown and John Lydon. He also contributed to socially conscious projects such as the anti-apartheid anthem “Sun City” in 1985.
However, his legacy was later complicated by serious allegations of sexual abuse dating back decades. He denied the accusations, describing them as an attempt to damage his reputation. In 2016, he stepped down as leader of the Universal Zulu Nation amid the controversy.
In 2025, reports indicated he lost a civil case involving allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking after failing to appear in court, according to legal filings reported by international media outlets.
The Hip Hop Alliance acknowledged that while his contributions to music and culture remain historically significant, his legacy has been the subject of ongoing debate within the global hip-hop community.
Despite the controversies surrounding his later years, Afrika Bambaataa remains widely recognised as one of the founding architects of hip-hop culture, whose influence helped shape the genre into a worldwide phenomenon.
Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Dies at 68 After Battle With Cancer
Entertainment
Veteran Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66 After Cancer Battle
Veteran Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66 After Cancer Battle
Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66, days after his family publicly disclosed his battle with stage-four cancer.
The actor reportedly died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following a deterioration in his health. His death was confirmed in reports quoting people close to the actor, while his daughter, Kaira Taiwo, was seen in tears during an Instagram Live session, struggling to come to terms with the development.
The founder of Best of Nollywood, Seun Oloketuyi, also announced the actor’s death in a social media post, writing: “Taiwo Hassan Ogogo is dead. He finally lost the battle of life.”
News of the actor’s death has triggered an outpouring of grief from colleagues, fans and associates across the Nigerian film industry.
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Veteran actor and filmmaker, Saheed Balogun, mourned Hassan in an Instagram post, saying, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. You can rest now my brother Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. May Almighty Allah guide you through Aljannah. This is truly painful.”
The death came barely a week after Ogogo’s daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, made emotional appeals for urgent medical assistance for their father.
The sisters had disclosed that the actor was battling stage-four cancer and appealed to medical professionals, hospitals and others with access to possible treatment options to come to his aid. According to Kaira, doctors had told the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition.
The family’s appeal sparked widespread concern among Nigerians and members of the entertainment industry, with colleagues rallying around the actor and urging the public to continue praying for him.
Before his death, fellow veteran actor Jide Kosoko disclosed that more than 500 people had offered various forms of assistance to Ogogo, as the family and colleagues searched for appropriate treatment options.
Hassan was one of the most recognisable figures in Nigeria’s Yoruba-language film industry, with a career spanning several decades as an actor, filmmaker and producer.
He earned widespread recognition for his distinctive performances in Yoruba films and remained a respected figure in Nollywood throughout his long career.
His death marks the loss of one of the enduring personalities of Nigeria’s indigenous-language cinema.
Veteran Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66 After Cancer Battle
Entertainment
Ronke Oshodi Oke: I Won’t Object If My Husband Marries Second Wife
Ronke Oshodi Oke: I Won’t Object If My Husband Marries Second Wife
Veteran Nollywood actress Ronke Oshodi Oke has said she would not oppose her husband taking a second wife, provided he has the financial capacity to cater adequately for both families and continues to treat his first wife with respect.
The actress made the disclosure during an interview with Behind The Fame TV, where she spoke about marriage, polygamy and the responsibilities of husbands towards their wives.
According to her, while she would accept her husband’s decision to marry another woman, she would not agree to live under the same roof with the second wife.
She explained that in the event of such a decision, her husband would be expected to provide separate accommodation for the second wife rather than bring her into the home she currently occupies.
“A man has to respect his wife because if he wants to marry a second wife, he should bring her home and introduce her to the first wife properly,” the actress said.
Oshodi Oke maintained that a woman should not necessarily create conflict with her husband simply because he decides to take another wife, particularly when he possesses the financial means to shoulder the responsibilities that come with a larger family.
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“A wise woman should know that there is no big deal if a man marries a second wife, but the only thing is that I can’t stay in the same house together with the second wife,” she said.
The actress stressed that her primary concern would be her husband’s ability to provide for his responsibilities without neglecting his existing family.
“If my husband can take care of the second wife and he has the financial capacity, I see no reason he can’t marry a second wife,” she stated.
She further explained that taking another wife should not be an excuse for a man to abandon or reduce his financial and emotional responsibilities towards his first wife and their children.
“If marrying a second wife will not stop him from giving me money…” she added.
Her comments have drawn attention to the subject of polygamy, a practice that remains part of Nigeria’s social and cultural landscape, particularly in communities where plural marriage is traditionally or religiously recognised.
Oshodi Oke’s position, however, was accompanied by a clear personal boundary: she would accept the marriage but would not share the same residence with the second wife.
The actress also emphasised the importance of respect and proper communication between spouses, suggesting that a husband who chooses to marry another wife should handle the situation in a manner that protects the dignity of his first wife.
Her remarks have since generated discussions among social media users and members of the public, with reactions reflecting differing views on polygamy, financial responsibility, marital respect and the rights and expectations of first wives.
Ronke Oshodi Oke: I Won’t Object If My Husband Marries Second Wife
Entertainment
“We Don’t Want to See You in Edo Again” — Gov Okpebholo’s Aide Declares War on Davido
“We Don’t Want to See You in Edo Again” — Gov Okpebholo’s Aide Declares War on Davido
The Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Apostle Kassy Chukwu, has declared that Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is no longer welcome to perform in Edo State for the remainder of the governor’s tenure. The warning comes amid an escalating public feud between the singer and the governor, triggered by Davido’s involvement in the recent Osun State governorship election and his refusal to apologise for mocking the governor’s academic credentials.
Chukwu made the declaration in a video shared on YouTube by Peniel TV International, Benin City, on Thursday, where he announced that Davido had been “banned” from staging performances anywhere in Edo State. “You have been banned from coming to Edo State to perform. We don’t want to see you in Edo again,” Chukwu said in the video. The governor’s aide accused the singer of making disrespectful remarks about Governor Okpebholo and his family, maintaining that Davido would not be welcome in the state for the remaining years of the administration.
Chukwu also claimed that some youths in Edo were angered by Davido’s comments and warned that the singer could face a hostile reception if he returned to the state, including through the airport. “Edo youths are angry. They said if they catch you again, nobody should bring Davido to come and perform in any place again in Edo State,” Chukwu said. In more graphic terms, the aide stated, “If we catch you, if we see you for airports, go tell boys make them use slap take remove your teeth for you.”
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The dispute traces back to the build-up to the August 15 Osun State governorship election, in which Governor Okpebholo, a member of the All Progressives Congress, publicly criticised Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, Davido’s uncle, while campaigning in the state. Okpebholo had questioned Adeleke’s leadership style, specifically mocking his frequent dancing. “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance,” Okpebholo had said.
Davido, who had been actively involved in his uncle’s re-election campaign, responded by sharing what appeared to be Governor Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result on his Instagram Story. The purported result showed several grades, including D7 in Commerce, Economics, English Language and Christian Religious Knowledge, E8 in Government and C5 in Mathematics. The authenticity of the document has not been independently established.
The singer later defended his decision during an interview with News Central, insisting that he had no reason to apologise. “I’m not going to apologise. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just telling people of the state the results their governor has,” Davido said. He also questioned why Governor Okpebholo had travelled from Edo to Osun to attack his uncle during the election campaign, stating, “First of all, you were not even elected; you were selected. You don’t know what it means to win an election.” Davido further expressed concern for the governor’s children, saying, “I feel so bad for his kids.”
Chukwu, while defending the governor, accused Davido of crossing the line with his comments and social media activity. He also criticised the singer’s associate, Israel DMW, whom he blamed for allegedly encouraging Davido to criticise the governor. The aide further pushed back on the authenticity of the shared document, describing it as allegedly manipulated, and cautioned Davido against making similar posts targeting the governor in the future.
It was not immediately clear whether the statement represented an official position of the Edo State Government or was a personal response by the governor’s aide. The video of Chukwu’s comments has since circulated widely online, adding fresh attention to the ongoing back-and-forth between the singer and the Edo State government, with no indication yet that either side intends to de-escalate the dispute.
“We Don’t Want to See You in Edo Again” — Gov Okpebholo’s Aide Declares War on Davido
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