The dispute over where gospel singer Toluwanising should be buried appears to have been settled, according to one of his closest colleagues.

The agreement

In an Instagram video shared on Sunday, 1 November 2026, singer Lanre Alewilese said the widow, Damilola Olayemi, and her father-in-law had agreed that the singer should be buried at his house in Ibadan, Oyo State. He described the disagreement as a misunderstanding and asked Nigerians to let the family settle the matter in peace. He also appealed to people to stop attacking the widow, describing her as a young woman going through a very difficult time, and said members of the singer's band could vouch for her character.

Woli Arole speaks

On Monday, 2 November, comedian-turned-pastor Bayegun Oluwatoyin, known as Woli Arole, posted a video in which he condemned people seeking social media attention from the tragedy. Quoting Proverbs 31:8 on speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, he described Toluwanising as a rare talent, and questioned why some of those now talking about him had shown little interest in his music while he was alive. He urged the public to support the widow and children, and said no dispute could take away the music the singer left behind. His comments came after unproven claims made online by a preacher based in Canada named him and other gospel figures in connection with the death.

Background

Toluwanising, 32, died suddenly on 14 October 2026, and a night of tributes was held for him in Ibadan on 27 October. His father had insisted that he be buried at the family residence or in his hometown near his late mother, and relatives had claimed that the widow preferred a cemetery. His younger brother later defended the widow, as did media personality Nancy Umeh.

What happens next

A burial date has not yet been announced.

Davido has once again got fans talking about a possible joint tour with his long-time rival, Wizkid.

What he said

In an interview on the IONWANNATALK show, clips of which spread online on 1 and 2 November 2026, Davido reportedly said that if he and Wizkid toured together, he would ask for $500,000 per show because every venue would sell out. He was less sure that a joint song would be a hit, pointing to past collaborations between big stars that he said did not do as well as expected.

On the rivalry

Davido said the two had not recorded together in about 10 years, not because they could not work together, but because they were not in the same mental space. He acknowledged that people have different views on whether the rivalry helped or hurt their careers, and said he had once felt strongly about their differences but no longer did.

Background

Davido and Wizkid are two of the biggest names in Afrobeats. They collaborated in the early 2010s, but fans have long been divided into rival camps, and the two have occasionally traded words online. Davido has been in the news this week over his breakdown in relations with VeryDarkMan and his support for Zlatan's song 'Inferno'.

How fans reacted

Fans were excited by the idea of a joint tour, with many saying it would be the biggest event in African music. Wizkid had not responded at the time of the report.

Nigerian gospel singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey has reached a milestone no other African gospel artist has achieved, according to reports on Monday, 2 November 2026.

The milestone

His main YouTube channel had passed 1.014 billion views at the time of reporting, with about 5.24 million subscribers. The channel has been active since 2011. Among his most popular songs are 'Imela', 'Onise Iyanu', 'Olowogbogboro' and 'You Are God', which are sung in churches across Nigeria and the diaspora.

The Hallelujah Challenge

The milestone came during the October 2026 edition of the Hallelujah Challenge, the midnight prayer and worship programme Bassey started in 2017. It runs twice a year and draws huge online audiences, with many viewers joining live on Instagram and YouTube. Earlier this week, a plane crash survivor shared a testimony during the programme, and a Muslim woman's decision to join drew attention online.

A non-commercial approach

Some of Bassey's followers have suggested he should make money from the large audience. He has previously described the Hallelujah Challenge as a spiritual exercise focused on devotion and worship rather than revenue. He did not give a public statement about the milestone at the time of reporting.

Background

Bassey, who is also a trumpeter, has become one of the best-known voices in Nigerian worship music. His success shows the growing global reach of Nigerian gospel music, which has produced several international stars in recent years.

How fans reacted

Fans celebrated the news online, describing it as a proud moment for African gospel music.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has made it clear that opposition political parties should be allowed to use government-owned facilities in the state, provided they follow the proper procedures and pay the required fees.

The directive

According to the governor, he has already given instructions that no political party should be prevented from using public facilities, including the stadium, simply because it belongs to the opposition.

A message of political tolerance

Otti's position sends an important message about tolerance and fairness. Government facilities are maintained with public resources, and access to them should not depend on which party someone supports.

This is one area where Nigerian politicians need to learn to separate governance from party politics. You can disagree with your opponents and campaign against them, and still respect their right to operate within the law.

Governor Otti appears to be making that distinction clear in Abia State.

The big question

How many Nigerian governors would willingly allow opposition parties to use government facilities for their political activities?

Politics should never be an excuse to deny citizens their rights.