Category: Entertainment
Wizkid, Burna Boy and Asake to Headline Afro Nation 2026 in Portugal
Afrobeats heavyweights Wizkid, Burna Boy and Asake have been confirmed as the headline acts for the highly anticipated Afro Nation 2026 festival in Portugal. The organisers made the announcement via an official post on X (@AfroNation), unveiling a star-studded lineup that blends Afrobeats royalty with fast-rising global talents. The three-day festival is scheduled to hold from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, at the scenic Praia da Rocha Beach in Portimão, a venue that has become synonymous with Afro Nation’s vibrant energy and cultural celebration. Grammy-winning superstar Burna Boy will headline the opening night on July 3, bringing his globally acclaimed fusion of Afrobeat, dancehall and contemporary sounds to the stage. He will be joined by South African sensation Tyla, whose rapid rise has positioned her as one of Amapiano’s leading international exports. Asake, known for his electrifying performances and unique blend of Afrobeats and street pop, will take centre stage on July 4, while global Afrobeats icon Wizkid is set to close the festival on July 5. Beyond the headliners, Afro Nation 2026 boasts an impressive international lineup, including American R&B star Kehlani and rapper Gunna. Nigerian acts such as Olamide, Young John, Darkoo, Wande Coal and Mavo will also perform, further showcasing the depth and global influence of African music. Organisers announced that early-access tickets will go on sale on February 5, ahead of the general ticket release. Founded in 2019 by The Malachite Group, Afro Nation has grown into one of the world’s biggest celebrations of African music, culture, fashion and cuisine, with editions held in Portugal, Ghana, Puerto Rico, Miami and Detroit. Previous headliners include Davido, Megan Thee Stallion, 50 Cent, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj, cementing the festival’s status as a global cultural powerhouse.
Grammy Winners 2026: See the Full List
The 2026 Grammy Awards kicked off in Los Angeles, with hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar emerging as the most nominated artist this year. Lamar leads the pack with a ceremony-high nine nominations, including a coveted Album of the Year nod for his 2025 project, GNX. The album has been widely praised for its lyrical depth and sonic experimentation, further cementing Lamar’s status as one of music’s most influential voices. Following closely behind are Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Mayhem producer Cirkut, who each secured seven nominations. Cirkut marked a major milestone earlier in the night by winning his first-ever Grammy, taking home the award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, at the Premiere Ceremony. Lady Gaga also picked up an early win, clinching Best Dance Pop Recording for her track “Abracadabra”, adding to her long list of Grammy achievements. See Full List below: Best New Artist Addison Rae Alex Warren Katseye Leon Thomas Lola Young The Marías WINNER: Olivia Dean Sombr Best Rap Album Clipse, Pusha T & Malice: Let God Sort Em Out Glorilla: Glorious JID: God Does Like Ugly WINNER: Kendick Lamar: GNX Tyler, the Creator: Chromakopia Best Rap Song Clipse: “The Birds Don’t Sing” [ft. John Legend, Voices of Fire] Doechii: “Anxiety” Glorilla: “TGIF” WINNER: Kendrick Lamar: “TV Off” [ft. Lefty Gunplay] Tyler, the Creator: “Sticky” [ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne] Best Melodic Rap Performance Fridayy & Meek Mill: “Proud of Me” JID, Ty Dolla $ign & 6lack: “Wholeheartedly” WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “Luther” PartyNextDoor & Drake: “Somebody Loves Me” Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon Featuring Rapsody: “WeMaj” Best Rap Performance Cardi B: “Outside” WINNER: Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T & Malice: “Chains & Whips” Doechii: “Anxiety” Kendrick Lamar: “TV Off” [ft. Lefty Gunplay] Tyler, the Creator: “Darling, I” [ft. Teezo Touchdown] Best R&B Album Coco Jones: Why Not More? Giveon: Beloved Ledisi: The Crown WINNER: Leon Thomas: Mutt Teyana Taylor: Escape Room Best Progressive R&B Album Bilal: Adjust Brightness Destin Conrad: Love on Digital WINNER: Durand Bernarr: Bloom Flo: Access All Areas Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon: Come as You Are Best R&B Song Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller: “It Depends” Durand Bernarr: “Overqualified” WINNER: Kehlani: “Folded” Leon Thomas: “Yes It Is” Summer Walker: “Heart of a Woman” Best Traditional R&B Performance Durand Bernarr: “Here We Are” Lalah Hathaway: “Uptown” Ledisi: “Love You Too” WINNER: Leon Thomas: “Vibes Don’t Lie” SZA: “Crybaby” Best R&B Performance Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller: “It Depends” Justin Bieber: “Yukon” WINNER: Kehlani: “Folded” Leon Thomas: “Mutt (Live from NPR’s Tiny Desk)” Summer Walker: “Heart of a Woman” Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical WINNER: Amy Allen Edgar Barrera Jessie Jo Dillon Laura Veltz Tobias Jesso Jr. Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Blake Mills WINNER: Cirkut Dan Auerbach Dijon Sounwave Best Immersive Audio Album Duckwrth: All American F**k Boy WINNER: Justin Gray: Immersed Tearjerkers: Tearjerkers Trio Mediæval: Yule Various Artists: An Immersive Tribute to Astor Piazzolla (Live) Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Alison Krauss & Union Station: Arcadia Cam: All Things Light Japanese Breakfast: For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) WINNER: Pino Palladino & Blake Mills: That Wasn’t a Dream Best Alternative Music Album Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE WINNER: The Cure: Songs of a Lost World Hayley Williams: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Tyler, the Creator: Don’t Tap the Glass Wet Leg: Moisturizer Best Alternative Music Performance Bon Iver: “Everything Is Peaceful Love” WINNER: The Cure: “Alone” Hayley Williams: “Parachute” Turnstile: “Seein’ Stars” Wet Leg: “Mangetout” Best Rock Album Deftones: Private Music Haim: I Quit Linkin Park: From Zero WINNER: Turnstile: Never Enough Yungblud: Idols Best Rock Performance Amyl and the Sniffers: “U Should Not Be Doing That” Hayley Williams: “Mirtazapine” Linkin Park: “The Emptiness Machine” Turnstile: “Never Enough” WINNER: Yungblud, Nuno Bettencourt & Frank Bello Featuring Adam Wakeman & II: Changes (Live From Villa Park / Back to the Beginning)” Best Rock Song Hayley Williams: “Glum” WINNER: Nine Inch Nails: “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” Sleep Token: “Caramel” Turnstile: “Never Enough” Yungblud: “Zombie” Best Dance Pop Recording WINNER: Lady Gaga: “Abracadabra” PinkPantheress: “Illegal” Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco: “Bluest Flame” Tate McRae: “Just Keep Watching” Zara Larsson: “Midnight Sun” Best Music Film Devo: Devo Diane Warren: Relentless WINNER: John Williams: Music by John Williams Pharrell Williams: Piece by Piece Raye: Live at the Royal Albert Hall Best Music Video Clipse: “So Be It” WINNER: Doechii: “Anxiety” OK Go: “Love” Sabrina Carpenter: “Manchild” Sade: “Young Lion” Best Song Written for Visual Media Elton John & Brandi Carlile “Never Too Late (From the Film Elton John: Never Too Late)” WINNER: Huntr/x: “Golden” Jayme Lawson: “Pale, Pale Moon” Miles Caton: “I Lied to You” Nine Inch Nails: “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” Rod Wave: “Sinners” Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media WINNER: Austin Wintory: Sword of the Sea Gordy Haab: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Pinar Toprak: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires Wilbert Roget, II: Helldivers 2 Wilbert Roget, II & Cody Matthew Johnson: Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television) John Powell: How to Train Your Dragon John Powell & Stephen Schwartz: Wicked Kris Bowers: The Wild Robot WINNER: Ludwig Göransson: Sinners Theodore Shapiro: Severance: Season 2 Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Timothée Chalamet: A Complete Unknown Various Artists: F1® the Album Various Artists: KPop Demon Hunters WINNER: Various Artists: Sinners Various Artists: Wicked Best Tropical Latin Album Alain Pérez: Bingo Gilberto Santa Rosa: Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2 WINNER: Gloria Estefan: Raíces Grupo Niche – Clásicos 1.0 Rubén Blades Featuring Roberto Delgado & Orquesta: Fotografías Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) Bobby Pulido: Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya Y una Mía – Por la Puerta Grande (En Vivo) WINNER: Carín León: Palabra de To’s (Seca) Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera: Mala Mía Grupo Frontera: Y Lo Que Viene Paola Jara: Sin Rodeos Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Aterciopelados: Genes Rebeldes Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana & Astropical: Astropical WINNER: Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso: Papota Fito Páez: Novela Los Wizzards: Algorhythm Best Latin Pop Album Alejandro Sanz: ¿Y Ahora Qué? Andrés Cepeda: Bogotá (Deluxe) Karol G: Tropicoqueta WINNER: Natalia Lafourcade: Cancionera Rauw Alejandro: Cosa Nuestra Best Remixed Recording The Chemical Brothers & Chris Lake: “Galvanize (Chris Lake Remix)” Huntr/x & David Guetta: “Golden (David Guetta Rem/x)” WINNER: Lady Gaga & Gesaffelstein: “Abracadabra (Gesaffelstein Remix)” Mariah Carey & Kaytranada: “Don’t Forget…
Why I’m Not Rich Like Other Actresses — Bimbo Akintola
Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has shed light on why she does not live as lavishly as some of her colleagues, pointing to the harsh financial realities of Nigeria’s film industry. Speaking in a recent interview, Akintola dismissed the widespread belief that acting alone can make many actresses wealthy, noting that payments from platforms such as Africa Magic and similar outlets are often far from enough to sustain extravagant lifestyles. “We hear stories of some actresses who do things with politicians for money. So when people ask me why I am not rich like the others, I tell them to go ask them what other jobs they do,” she said. Emphasising the limited earnings from film roles, the seasoned actress added, “Because we know how much Africa Magic and other platforms pay for a movie.” Akintola, who has spent decades in Nollywood, explained that the public often misunderstands the true sources of wealth in the entertainment industry. According to her, many of the flashy lifestyles displayed on social media cannot realistically be supported by acting fees alone. Her comments have sparked renewed conversations about transparency, income sources, and the financial sustainability of acting careers in Nollywood.
Funke Akindele Called, Warned Me Against Mentioning Her Name in Interviews – Kunle Afolayan
Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has revealed that actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele personally cautioned him against mentioning her name during media interviews. Afolayan made the disclosure on Sunday during an interview with ARISE News, while reacting to the controversy that followed his earlier comments on the pressures and demands of promoting cinema films in Nigeria. According to the filmmaker, Akindele called him angrily and accused him of deliberately referencing her during discussions about movie promotion. “Listen, Funke called me yesterday, and all she was saying… she called and said, ‘Mr Afolayan, I know you don’t like me, but don’t mention my name in your interviews,’” he said, adding that she raised her voice and ended the call abruptly. Afolayan explained that he later reached out via text message to clarify his intentions. “I texted her and said I don’t know what must have caused this, but it’s fine, and I explained a few things to her, and that was it,” he added. The filmmaker contrasted Akindele’s reaction with that of actress Toyin Abraham, whom he said understood his point and even turned it into a skit. “Toyin Abraham and I spoke, and she said, ‘Egbon, I get what you’re saying,’ and she turned it into a skit where she was jokingly asking people to watch her film so she could make more than N10 million,” Afolayan said. Clarifying the context of his earlier remarks, Afolayan stressed that his comments were made at a film business forumwhere cinema operators questioned him about returning to cinema releases. “The cinema operators were asking me when I’m coming back to the cinema, and I said I can’t if you can’t guarantee that I’ll make substantial money,” he explained. He further noted that box office figures are often misleading, as filmmakers receive far less after deductions. “If a film makes N2 billion, after sharing, taxes, and deductions, what comes to you might be around N500 million,” he said. Despite the backlash, Afolayan insisted he harbours no ill feelings toward Akindele, describing her career as a model worth emulating. “I have absolutely nothing against Funke,” he said, revealing that he recently advised young filmmakers at the Rama Film Festival in Kaduna to adopt her business model. He praised Akindele’s consistent growth from her early success with Jenifa to the strength of her current brand, while admitting that the intense promotional energy her strategy requires no longer suits him. “She has grown consistently, and it’s working for her. I just don’t have that kind of energy anymore,” he said. The comments come after Akindele appeared to react to Afolayan’s earlier statements with a series of pointed posts on her Instagram story, urging creatives to avoid jealousy, focus on their individual paths, and develop alternative marketing strategies for their work.
Fast-Rising Singer Nanyah Reportedly Dies After Snake Bite
Fast-rising Nigerian singer and vocalist Ifunanya, popularly known as Nanyah_music, has reportedly passed away in a tragic incident that has left fans and the music community in shock. According to reports from close sources, the singer allegedly died after being bitten by a snake at her residence. She was said to have been rushed to a hospital for urgent medical attention, but despite efforts by medical personnel, she sadly did not survive. In the aftermath of the incident, a video clip has surfaced online showing a long black snake being held by a man whose face was not revealed. The clip has since fueled widespread reactions and condolences across social media platforms. Nanyah was a contestant on the fourth edition of The Voice Nigeria and was widely known for her powerful vocals and energetic live performances, particularly on social media where she frequently engaged with her growing fanbase. Notably, reports indicate that the singer was active on social media just hours before the tragic incident, making the news of her death even more heartbreaking for fans and followers. Tributes have continued to pour in online, with many remembering her as a talented performer whose career showed great promise.
Snoop Dogg’s Daughter Cori Broadus Announces Death of Her Baby Girl
Cori Broadus, the daughter of American rap icon Snoop Dogg, has announced the heartbreaking loss of her baby girl, Codi Dreaux. Cori shared the tragic news via her Instagram Stories, posting a black-and-white photo of herself smiling while holding her child. Overlaying the image, she wrote, “Monday I lost the love of my life. My Codi.” Her fiancé, Wayne Deuce, also took to Instagram Stories to mourn their daughter, sharing a series of emotional photos. “I been the saddest since u left me Codi Dreaux. But I know u at peace. Daddy will always love you,” he wrote over an image of himself holding the baby. “My baby,” he added. Cori is the youngest child of Snoop Dogg and his wife of over 35 years, Shante Broadus. The actress and entrepreneur had previously shared details of Codi’s birth in an Instagram post on March 1, 2025, revealing that her daughter arrived prematurely. “The princess arrived at 6 months,” she wrote at the time. Opening up about the emotional toll of the experience, Cori added, “I’ve cried and cried, I’ve compared and compared, blaming myself that I wasn’t able to give her all that she needed. But no matter what, God always shows me that I’m His Child! “Baby girl came at 25 weeks today and she’s perfect as ever!” she continued. “Thank You God for getting me this far no matter the odds that are constantly thrown against me.” In a separate Instagram Stories update shared the same day, Cori disclosed that she had undergone a C-section after doctors warned she was developing Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets, known as HELLP syndrome. Codi spent 10 months in the neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, before Cori announced earlier this year that she had finally been able to bring her daughter home. “She’s home,” she wrote in a January 6 Instagram post showing mother and child cuddling on a bed. “Thank you for every prayer, every message, every ounce of love. God heard them all.” The announcement of Codi’s passing has since drawn an outpouring of sympathy and support for Cori and her family.
Ayra Starr Names Burna Boy as Her Dream Collaboration Ahead of 2026 Grammys
Nigerian Afrobeat singer Ayra Starr has revealed that Burna Boy remains her top choice for a future music collaboration. The award-winning artiste made the disclosure during a Billboard interview with Love Island USA star, Chelley Bissainthe, while speaking about her nomination for the 2026 Grammy Awards. Reflecting on her journey and growing confidence in her career, Ayra Starr described the latest nomination as a reassuring moment, especially when compared to her first experience. “I am very grateful that I’m actually a two-time Grammy nominee. The first time I got nominated, it was like oh my God, I got nominated. “But the second time I was like maybe I need to trust God and myself a bit more. I have collaborated with many people, and I still want to collaborate with more people. But everyone knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with,” she said. TRENDBRIO reports that Ayra Starr secured a Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for Gimme Dat, her collaboration with Wizkid, which was released in April 2025. The nominations were officially announced in November 2025, ahead of the Grammy Awards ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026. Reacting to the honour, the singer reiterated that the recognition serves as reassurance of her growth and consistency in the global music space.
Funke Akindele Fires Back at Kunle Afolayan Over Comments on Cinema Profits and Marketing
Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has reacted to comments made by her colleague, Kunle Afolayan, on profit-making strategies in the Nigerian film industry and blockbuster cinema earnings running into billions of naira. Afolayan, in a series of videos, had criticised what he described as the current marketing culture surrounding cinema releases, questioning the sustainability and personal financial benefits of such strategies. Speaking during the launch of his movie Anikulapo, the filmmaker dismissed the idea of competing over box office figures, arguing that high gross earnings do not always translate to personal profit. “There is no competition between us. I don’t just want N1 billion or N2 billion in the cinema that I won’t be able to personally receive N10 million from,” he said. He further elaborated on his stance during an appearance at the Lagos Business of Film Summit, where he explained why he does not actively collaborate with cinema-focused marketing approaches. “I want to make a film if you can guarantee I don’t have to dance to sell. We need to come up with other strategies. How do we sell without exhausting ourselves? I don’t know how the likes of Funke Akindele and others are doing it. Creating skits every day, changing costumes all the time. I can’t do it,” Afolayan said. Reacting to the remarks via her Instagram story, Funke Akindele attributed his comments to jealousy and insisted that she was not responsible for anyone’s lack of progress in the industry. “I’m not the one hindering your progress. Ka rin ka po, yiye ni n ye ni,” she wrote. She encouraged creatives to focus on their individual journeys rather than comparing themselves to others, stressing that success comes in different forms. “If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you. The sky is so big for everybody to fly. Eyin Werey jojo. You can do it! The opportunities are endless, and everyone has their own path. I’m focused on mine, and I have faith in God’s plan for me. “Go ahead and create alternative promotion or marketing strategies for promoting your business, or hire a company to handle it”, she said. Trendbrio reports that Afolayan’s comments came against the backdrop of recent box office milestones, with Nollywood actresses Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele recording cinema grosses of N1 billion and N2 billion respectively.