Category Entertainment News

Renowned gospel singers Nathaniel Bassey and Frank Edwards, alongside the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, have paid glowing tributes following the death of celebrated worship leader Dr. Ron Kenoly.

Kenoly’s longtime music director, Bruno Miranda, confirmed the news on Tuesday in a statement shared on the singer’s official Instagram page.

While the cause of death was not disclosed, the statement confirmed that Kenoly passed away on February 3, 2026.

“This morning, Feb. 3, 2026, we said goodbye to Dr. Ron Kenoly,” the statement read.

READ ALSO: Gospel Legend Ron Kenoly Dies At 81

Generations of Inspiration

In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, Nathaniel Bassey thanked Kenoly for being a foundational inspiration to his own ministry and many others.

“Dr. RON KENOLY crosses to the yonder side. Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me. I grew up on these songs, and today others are growing up on ours. Thank you, Sir.”

In an emotional tribute, Bishop Oke, began with “Farewell to a True Worshipper Ron Kenoly” and commiserated with his beloved family, his wife, children, grandchildren.

“We commiserate with his beloved family, his wife, children, grandchildren, and pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort, strengthen, and abide with them at this critical time.”

Frank Edwards also shared his grief on social media, highlighting the legend’s global impact:

“Life well lived, Heaven’s gain. Thank you for the music, thank you for the impact! Rest well, Dr. Ron Kenoly.”

Bishop Wale Oke issued a statement titled “Farewell to a True Worshipper,” where he offered prayers for the family Kenoly left behind.

Nigerian fashion designer Ruth Erikan James, professionally known as Veekee James, has announced that she and her husband, Femi Atere, are expecting their first child together. 

Veekee James shared the cheery news on Instagram, posting a short video showing her and her husband at a brown‑pastel venue, coordinated in tan outfits, with Veekee’s growing baby bump and ultrasound photos featured in the clips. 

“And two shall become 3,” she captioned the post. “Indeed, this is what only GOD can do.”

READ ALSO: I Nearly Omitted My Grammy-Nominated ‘With You’ On ‘5ive’ — Davido

Veekee James is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated fashion designers, best known for her luxury bridal and couture creations. 

She launched her fashion brand in 2019 and quickly rose to prominence for her sculptural form‑fitting wedding dresses and red‑carpet gowns worn by high‑profile clients across Africa. 

Her designs have become staples at weddings and major awards events, earning her industry accolades and a reputation as a trendsetter in contemporary fashion. In 2021, she was named AMVCA Best Designer of the Year.

Born on June 9, 1994, in Akwa Ibom State and raised in Lagos, Veekee’s journey in fashion began early, inspired by her mother’s tailoring work. 

Over the years, she expanded her brand to include menswear and ready‑to‑wear lines and has become a respected voice in Nigeria’s vibrant fashion scene. 

She also engages in entrepreneurial initiatives beyond fashion, including gospel events and creative projects.

Veekee and Atere married in a widely celebrated ceremony in February 2024, following their engagement in December 2023. 

Since then, the couple has shared highlights of their life on social media. 

In late 2025, Veekee sparked speculation about a possible pregnancy after fans noticed changes in her appearance in photos and videos, though neither she nor her husband commented at the time. 

Five-time Grammy nominee Davido has revealed that his hit song With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.

The Afrobeats star disclosed this during at the awards ceremony, admitting that the now Grammy-nominated track was initially overlooked during internal listening sessions.

“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.

“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” Davido said to OkayAfrica.

READ ALSO: 2026 Grammy: Again, Tyla Beats Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr To Clinch ‘Best African Music Performance’ 

Davido also recounted the moment he learned about his latest Grammy nomination, revealing that the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, just days before his birthday.

“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.

‘With You’ was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE.

Since its release, the song has become one of Davido’s most successful recent records, topping charts and surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

Despite the song’s global success, Nigeria did not secure a Grammy win at the 2026 awards, with South African singer Tyla clinching the Best African Music Performance category.

Speaking on his next steps, Davido said his focus is now on touring and releasing new music.

He is also set to perform at Coachella 2026, marking another major milestone in his career.

Kendrick Lamar has etched his name into music history, becoming the most awarded rapper at the Grammy Awards after a dominant showing at the 2026 ceremony held on Sunday, February 1.

The Compton-born rapper entered the night with 22 Grammy wins and walked away with five additional trophies, taking his career total to 27.

In doing so, the 38-year-old rapper surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record of 25 Grammy wins, while also pulling ahead of Kanye West, who has 24, to claim the title of the most decorated rapper in Grammy history.

The milestone was sealed early in the night when Lamar won Best Rap Album for GNX, his third victory in the category following To Pimp a Butterfly in 2016 and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in 2023.

READ ALSO: 2026 Grammy Awards Winners [FULL LIST]

The win pushed him past Jay-Z’s tally mid-ceremony, drawing reactions from fans and the music industry.

Lamar went on to dominate the rap categories, winning Best Rap Song for Tv off featuring Lefty Gunplay, Best Rap Performance for Chains & Whips alongside Clipse, and Best Melodic Rap Performance for Luther, his collaboration with SZA.

He also secured one of the night’s top honours, Record of the Year, for Luther, marking his second consecutive win in the general field following his 2025 triumph with Not Like Us.

With that victory, Lamar became the first rapper to win Record of the Year back-to-back, underlining his rare crossover appeal beyond hip-hop categories.

Although GNX was also nominated for Album of the Year, and Luther received a nod for Song of the Year, Lamar did not take home those awards.

Still, his five wins from nine nominations made him the most successful artist of the night.

During his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, Lamar reflected on perseverance, cultural responsibility and the power of storytelling.

The 2026 wins bring Lamar’s career Grammy record to 27 awards from 66 nominations, a trajectory that highlights consistent dominance across rap categories and growing recognition in the Grammys’ general fields.

His Grammy journey spans more than a decade, from early wins for ‘i and Alright’ to recent sweeps with Not Like Us’ and ‘GNX.’

The record-breaking moment has fuelled fresh debate about generational shifts in hip-hop, with many pointing to Lamar’s sustained artistic evolution and cultural impact as key to his rise.

The achievement comes amid a strong run for the rapper, following the release of GNX in late 2024 and a highly publicised feud with Drake, both of which kept Lamar at the centre of hip-hop discourse.

With his latest Grammy triumph, Kendrick Lamar’s status as one of the most influential figures in modern music appears firmly secured, and, at 27 wins, his record may yet stretch even further.

Donald Trump threatened legal action on Monday against the host of the 68th Grammy Awards over the comedian’s comment on the US president and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

After congratulating Billie Eilish for winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for her track “Wildflower,” host Trevor Noah brought up Trump and Epstein.

“Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” he quipped, referring to the president’s threats to seize the autonomous Arctic territory.

Noah then added: “Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

Noah, who announced that this will be his final year hosting the Grammys after six turns as emcee, has been light on political commentary in previous years.

READ ALSO: ‘We Need More Africans To Win Grammys,’ Says Tyla After Second Win

His comments drew the ire of the president, who took to his Truth Social platform first saying that the “Grammy Awards are the WORST and virtually unwatchable,” before criticizing Noah.

“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory, statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” Trump asserted.

The Republican then branded South African Noah a “total loser” who needs to “get his facts straight.”

“I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C. … Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” Trump added.

Trump, who moved in the same social circles as Epstein in Florida and New York, has fought for months to prevent the release of a vast trove of documents about the disgraced financier and has given varying accounts of why he eventually fell out with Epstein.

South African pop star Laura ‘Tyla’ Seethal, has called for greater African representation at the Grammy Awards following her latest win in the Best African Music Performance category.

The 24-year-old singer clinched the award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, becoming the first artiste to win the category twice since it was introduced.

Tyla won with her single Push 2 Start, marking her second victory in the category after her 2024 triumph with the global hit Water.

Speaking to Billboard after receiving the award, the 24-year-old expressed gratitude and reflected on what the recognition means for African artistes.

“I’m so grateful. This is insane. It just shows me how far we can take it. Being from where I’m from, we really have a chance, and that’s just amazing,” she said.

Looking ahead, Tyla stressed the importance of seeing more African musicians celebrated on the global stage.

“When I was young, I wanted to see my girls getting Grammys and everything, and we’ve got that, but we need more. I’m excited to see the rest of our African superstars who are killing it right now be there as well. We are coming,” she said.

READ ALSO: [2026 Grammy] Again, Tyla Beats Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr To Clinch ‘Best African Music Performance’ 

Tyla’s latest victory further strengthens her position as one of Africa’s most successful young pop exports, with her music blending amapiano, pop and R&B in a way that resonates with international audiences.

Push 2 Start, lifted from her self-titled debut album Tyla released in 2024, gained widespread popularity through streaming platforms and social media dance challenges.

The song centres on themes of romance and self-confidence, infused with amapiano rhythms.

Best African Music Category

The Best African Music Performance category was created in 2024 to recognise recordings that showcase African music traditions and contemporary sounds. Nigeria’s Tems won the category in 2025.

This year’s Best African Music Performance category featured a strong line-up dominated by African heavyweights, particularly from Nigeria.

Nominees included Burna Boy (Love), Davido featuring Omah Lay (With You), Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (Gimme Dat), and Eddy Kenzo featuring Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

Although none of the Nigerian nominees secured a win, Burna Boy also earned an additional nomination for Best Global Music Album with No Sign of Weakness.

That category was eventually won by Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for their joint project Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo.

Tyla’s 2026 victory marks the second time she has edged out Nigerian artistes in the category, following her inaugural win in 2024.

Beyond individual accolades, the 68th Grammy Awards highlighted the growing global influence of African music.

The 68th Grammy Awards also honoured legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.