Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Airtel, Spotify partner on music streaming service
Airtel Nigeria says it has partnered with Spotify, a global streaming service, to provide music lovers across Nigeria with daily complimentary data to access the platform.
Airtel made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
It said that with the partnership, Airtel’s customers who purchase weekly and monthly data bundles would get bonus data to enjoy Spotify with its over 70 million songs, including local favourites without worrying about additional data costs.
“The partnership will offer Airtel customers complimentary data that can be used exclusively on the Spotify platform whenever they purchase data bundles,”it said.
Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Commercial Officer, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said the company’s partnership with Spotify was yet another demonstration of its commitment to creating opportunities that would entertain, excite, delight and reward customers on its network.
Efeurhobo said: “Airtel is positioned as the network of first choice for music, youth culture and innovation and we are delighted to partner with Spotify to deliver sheer happiness at the fingertips of our esteemed customers across the country.
“We believe this partnership will not only empower and reward our customers but will also enable them to enjoy themselves thoroughly as they connect to the artists and songs they cherish.”
Fergal Walker, Director Freemium Partnerships at Spotify, said: “We are excited to announce our first partnership in Africa.
“Airtel, one of Nigeria’s leading mobile network, is a natural choice that shared our vision to enable Nigerians to access great audio and music for free.” (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Nollywood Actor, Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies
Popular Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, better known as Ogogo, is dead.
The news of the actor’s death was confirmed by multiple sources, including the founder of Best of Nollywood, Seun Oloketuyi.
Oloketuyi announced the death in a post on social media, writing, “Taiwo Hassan Ogogo is dead.
“He finally lost the battle of life.
”Ogogo’s daughter, Kaira Taiwo, was also seen crying during a live session on Instagram on Sunday, where she expressed disbelief over her father’s death.
Nigerian actor and filmmaker, Saheed Balogun, also mourned the veteran actor in an Instagram post.
“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.” Balogun wrote.
The actor’s death comes days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, appealed for medical assistance for their father, who had been battling stage-four cancer.
On Monday, August 17, 2026, the sisters took to social media to seek medical advice and assistance for the actor.
According to Kaira, doctors had informed the family that they could no longer administer chemotherapy due to his condition.
The family subsequently sought alternative treatment options, including specialised medical procedures and traditional remedies.
Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly known for his contributions to Yoruba-language films.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Grammy-winning Singer, Angelique Kidjo Immortalised on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Five-time Grammy winner, Angelique Kidjo, has become the first African musician to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to Billboard, kidjo was honoured at a glitzy ceremony on Tuesday at the Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The historic recognition has made the Beninese music legend the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
After offering thanks to her team and family, Kidjo erupted into song as those present sat in rapt attention.
“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world.
Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” the 66-year-old said.Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy hailed Kidjo as a “rare artist.”
“Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it’s connection.
“This star is a permanent symbol; it’s not going anywhere, and it’s a symbol of your achievements.
“But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world,” he said.
Born in Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and 18 albums.
Among other accolades, she has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people,
She has also been nominated as one of Africa’s 50 most iconic figures by the BBC, and one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by The Guardian.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a famous public landmark in Los Angeles, California, featuring over 2,800 terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks to honour major figures in the entertainment world.
The walk of fame star is a permanent, five-pointed pink and charcoal monument embedded in the sidewalk to honour people and characters for major achievements in entertainment.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Singers Wande Coal, Davido Clash over Unreleased Collaboration, ‘Come My Way’
Nigerian singers Wande Coal and Davido have clashed on social media over an unreleased collaboration,“Come My Way”.
The disagreement was sparked by comments made by Davido during a recent podcast interview, which he shared on his Instagram Story.
The “I know Who I be” crooner said that the collaboration was shelved after he disagreed with Wande Coal on how the song should be released.
According to Davido, Wande Coal initially approached him to feature on the song, after which he recorded a verse.
He said the disagreement arose when Wande Coal planned to release the original song first and subsequently use his contribution for a remix.
Davido said he did not write his verse with the intention of releasing it as a remix, adding that the disagreement over the proposed release arrangement was responsible for the collaboration not being released.
However, Wande Coal rejected Davido’s account in a post on X, arguing that ‘Come My Way’ already had a release plan and date before the disagreement.
He wrote: “Carry song come give you as how? Song wey been get release plan and date!!! Song wey no be your own you wan dictate release plan”.
He also noted that the song performed well without Davido’s contribution, refuting narratives that the collaboration’s failure was primarily linked to his release strategy.
“That song fkin did well without you on it bruv!!!”
The disagreement later escalated on social media as Davido subsequently responded to him on X, leading to further exchange of words between both artistes.
However, as the war of words continues between the two them, netizens, especially their fans and industry watchers, have urged them to sheathe their swords.


