Popular Kannywood actress, Wasila Isma’il, passed away this Sunday, a development that has shaken not only the Hausa film industry but also the wider public.
Wasila died this evening at FOMWAN Hospital in the Badarawa area of Kaduna, following complications from diabetes, an illness she had battled for a long time.
She was about 46 years old.
Wasila is survived by four children—three daughters and a son—whom she had with her former husband, actor and director Al-Amin Ciroma.
The couple had five children in total, but one son had died earlier.
Wasila and Ciroma, who is also a prominent journalist, separated three years ago after spending nearly 21 years in marriage.
Less than a year before their divorce, on Thursday, October 6, 2022, the couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
The divorce, first reported by Fim Magazine on July 4, 2023, shocked many people.
Fans and relatives of the two actors made efforts to reconcile them and bring them back together, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
Afterwards, Wasila returned to the film industry, where she continued contributing in various ways to the growth of Kannywood and showed strong commitment to supporting the industry.
Her death has deeply shaken the Kannywood industry. Colleagues and members of the public have continued to express their grief and pray for her, especially on social media.
Ciroma shared his grief on his Facebook page, writing: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return. Allah the Almighty has taken Malama Wasila Ismail. May Allah forgive her, and may He grant us all a peaceful end. Amen.”
The message drew significant public attention, with many offering prayers for the deceased.
Our correspondent was informed that the funeral would not hold today because it was already late in the evening and the weather conditions were unfavourable.
However, the funeral is scheduled for Monday at 10:00 a.m. at her family home in Shagari Junction, Badarawa, near the former office of her mentor, Yakubu Lere.
