Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita The nominations for the 2026 MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards were officially announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026, marking the organization’s 30th anniversary. Nigerian singer Ayra Starr emerged as a prominent contender, securing two major nominations following her historic 2025 win as the first woman in 16 years to be named Best African Music Act. For the upcoming ceremony, she is shortlisted for both Best African Music Act and Best International Act, where she will compete against global artists including Cardi B, Gunna, Kehlani, and Vybz Kartel. ​Nigeria maintains a strong presence in the 2026 lineup, particularly…

Manny Ita Meghan Markle may return to the United Kingdom in 2026 for the first time since 2022, according to reports from royal insiders and security correspondents, following developments in Prince Harry’s legal battle over state-funded protection. The possible visit is linked to an updated security assessment that could remove what has been described as the main obstacle to the Sussexes’ presence in Britain. As of January 2026, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee is reported to have carried out a fresh risk evaluation concerning Prince Harry’s security arrangements. Sources within the Home Office have suggested that armed police protection…

Manny Ita ​Lexus is reportedly in the final stages of developing its next-generation halo car, widely expected to be named the Lexus LFR, to serve as a high-performance successor to the legendary LFA. According to reports from DubiCars and global automotive outlets, the new flagship is targeting a 2027 release and marks a technological pivot for the brand, moving from the high-revving V10 engine of its predecessor to an advanced twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain. ​Engineering details suggest the LFR will utilize its electric motors to provide “instant torque” and eliminate turbo lag before the internal combustion engine fully engages. While…

Manny Ita A$AP Rocky has revealed that his relationship with Rihanna was encouraged years in advance by his mother, Renee Black, in an interview that has gained widespread attention on social media. The rapper made the comments during an appearance on the New York Times’ “Popcast” on Thursday, January 15, 2026, where he reflected on the early stages of his friendship with Rihanna and the role his mother played in urging him toward a romantic relationship. Rocky said his mother repeatedly encouraged him to pursue Rihanna nearly a decade before they eventually began dating, even while he was involved with…

Manny Ita Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has returned to long-form fiction after a 12-year hiatus with “Dream Count,” a novel that has quickly moved from anticipation to global acclaim since its release in March 2025. The book has remained on international bestseller lists into early 2026 and has become a central subject of literary debate, marking one of the most significant publishing events of the past year. Set during the COVID-19 lockdown, the novel follows the intertwined lives of four women whose stories unfold across Nigeria and the United States. Adichie frames the narrative around what she calls the “dream count,”…

Manny Ita The +234 Art Fair is set to return for its third edition in 2026, reinforcing its reputation as a major platform for unrepresented and emerging Nigerian artists, with organizers describing this year’s focus as a push toward radical accessibility. The submission portal for participating artists closes on January 20, 2026, as preparations intensify for the fair scheduled to hold in Lagos in March. Organizers said the 2026 edition is themed “Inclusivity,” a concept aimed at what they describe as “widening the frame” of the Nigerian art market. Unlike previous editions themed “Heritage” in 2024 and “Patronage” in 2025,…

Manny Ita The “Nigerian Modernism” exhibition at Tate Modern is being described by critics as a “tectonic shift” in the global curation of African art, marking a significant departure from earlier ethnographic approaches and positioning Nigerian artists at the center of international modernist discourse. Rather than presenting the works as cultural artifacts, the exhibition traces Nigeria’s political and cultural evolution through art, linking creative expression to the country’s journey from late colonial rule to post-independence complexities. The exhibition spans nine galleries and features more than 250 works by over 50 artists, covering a 50-year period from the 1940s to the…

Manny Ita  Talks among key opposition figures have intensified following the issuance of what insiders describe as the “Otuocha Communiqué,” a joint statement that, while stopping short of announcing a formal merger, underscored what it called “total alignment on economic and security reforms.” The statement, released after closed-door consultations, has fueled widespread speculation about a coordinated political strategy ahead of the next general elections. Sources familiar with the discussions said a central focus of the talks was a proposed “Single Term Pact,” an arrangement under which a consensus presidential candidate would commit to serving a single four-year term. According to…

Manny Ita The Nigerian Air Force has killed a notorious bandit commander known as “Yellow Janaros” during a precision airstrike carried out under Operation Whirlwind in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, military authorities said. The strike targeted a bandit enclave in the Maru forests after intelligence identified Janaros as a key figure behind kidnappings and armed robberies along the Gusau–Funtua highway. Military sources said the operation followed days of sustained aerial surveillance that confirmed the presence of the commander and his lieutenants at the location. After the air interdiction, ground troops advanced into the area to conduct a…

Manny Ita The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has officially activated a “Level 2 Emergency” Response following a sharp escalation in Lassa fever cases across the country. As of January 16, 2026, the agency reported that 450 cases have been confirmed since the start of the year, with a staggering 70% of the total infections concentrated in four hotspot states: Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Taraba. Health officials noted that while the disease is seasonal, the intensity of this year’s outbreak has triggered the activation of the National Lassa Fever Multi-sectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to coordinate a…