Entertainment
Witches dealt with me after ‘Koto Orun’ Movie – Iya Gbonkan
By Funmilayo Olusanya
After appearing in the film “Koto Orun,” popular Yoruba actress, Margaret Bandele Olayinka, alias Iya Gbonkan, said she was subjected to severe witchcraft.
Iya Gbonkan
The veteran, who is well known for portraying a witch in most films, claimed that they used to approach her every other night at 12 o’clock and pressure her into joining their cause.
The 64-year-old thespian, however, remarked that she consistently declined their requests since, in her words, “bleeding and drinking of blood wasn’t in her ancestry.”
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In contrast, Iya Gbonkan claimed in an interview with U & I EvergreenTV that the witches beat her one particular night and nearly disfigured her face, making the attack worse when she appeared in “Koto Orun.”
She was particularly appreciative to God for protecting her throughout all of the assaults because of her candor.
She said: “Witches always come to me every night around 12 midnight. I’m very courageous, even what will scare me, I always endure it.
“There was even a time they beat me in my sleep to the point they dented my face. At that time, the father of my child was still alive. They tried to initiate me that I should come and join them in shedding and drinking blood but I resisted their attempt that it’s not in my lineage to do such.
“It became terrible after I acted ‘Koto Orun’ when we acted ‘Koto Orun’, everyone had a terrible encounter. I wasn’t just the only one but God vindicated me because of my honesty. I would have died during ‘Koto Orun’ because I went through a lot.
“I didn’t just start acting but since God said he would uplift me through that means I gave myself to it.”
The late Ajileye and Olori Abioye produced the 1989 film “Koto Orun,” which is one of the most well-known Yoruba films ever.
It was set in the pre-colonial era, when witches surrounded a particular community and tormented the residents willy-nilly.
Even though the good witches, known in the film as “aje funfun” (the white witches), frequently confront the wicked ones, it wasn’t enough to get rid of the evil ones’ infection of the town.
The gods promised the villagers a savior who would be sent by one of the king’s wives and would defeat the bad witches in response to their misery.
As a result, the witches, including the first wife of the king, devised numerous plans to assassinate the messianic bearer who had been prophesied.
Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, at the age of 66.
Hassan reportedly died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after battling cancer.
The actor’s death was announced by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, in an emotional video circulating on social media.
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In the video, Kira, who was visibly distraught, repeatedly said, “My daddy is dead,” as she announced the passing of her father.
The development came days after Kira and her sister, Haleemah, disclosed that the veteran actor had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
The sisters had appealed for public support as the family sought treatment options for their father.
Hassan was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly in Yoruba-language productions, where he established himself as one of the veteran actors with a long and influential career.
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is set to headline the “Davido & Friends” concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The highly anticipated concert is part of the Palace Bowl Presents summer festival series in the United Kingdom.
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Davido had earlier announced the event on his social media platforms, describing it as his first-ever festival performance in the UK and his only outdoor show in London this summer.
The singer will be joined on stage by a lineup of artistes including Omah Lay, Black Sherif, Gabzy, T x C, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela, Ecool, Morravey and Boi Chase.
According to the official Palace Bowl Presents website, the event is scheduled to begin with doors opening at 3 p.m., while the concert is expected to end at 10:30 p.m.
Ahead of the performance, Davido on Wednesday shared promotional artwork for the concert on his Instagram Story, featuring a “SOLD OUT” banner and expressing his excitement about the upcoming London show.
The sold-out event is expected to attract fans of the Nigerian music star and other Afrobeats performers for an evening of live music at the iconic Crystal Palace venue.
Nigerian music star, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his estranged wife, Annie Idibia, have sparked fresh speculation about their relationship after following each other again on Instagram.
The development has caught the attention of fans, coming more than a year after 2Baba publicly announced their separation and revealed that they were filing for divorce.
Checks on Monday showed that the former couple, who had previously unfollowed each other on Instagram, are now following each other again.
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The move has triggered speculation across social media, with some fans wondering whether the development could signal a possible reconciliation between the two.
Annie has also reportedly reverted to the name Annie Idibia on Instagram after recently changing it to Annie Macaulay, adding further fuel to the growing speculation.
However, neither 2Baba nor Annie has confirmed that they are planning to reconcile or revive their marriage.
The latest development comes after years of public scrutiny surrounding the couple’s relationship.
2Baba announced in January 2025 that he and Annie had been separated for some time and were “currently filing for divorce.”
The announcement generated widespread reactions, particularly given the couple’s long and sometimes turbulent relationship.
The singer initially deleted the post amid claims that his Instagram account had been hacked but later confirmed that he was responsible for the announcement.
2Baba and Annie’s relationship dates back to the early years of the singer’s career. Annie featured in the music video for his hit song African Queen, and the pair eventually got married in 2013.
They held two wedding ceremonies, with their traditional wedding taking place in Akwa Ibom State and their white wedding held in Dubai.
Their marriage subsequently faced several public controversies, including disputes surrounding 2Baba’s relationships with other women and his children from previous relationships.
In 2021, their marital crisis attracted significant public attention after Annie accused 2Baba of travelling to the United States to spend time with Pero Adeniyi, the mother of some of his children.
Despite the challenges, the couple remained together and renewed their vows in 2023 to mark their 10th wedding anniversary.
Their relationship later suffered another major setback, eventually leading to 2Baba’s separation announcement in 2025.
Following the separation, 2Baba went on to marry Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru.
While the latest Instagram connection does not confirm a reunion, it has nevertheless reignited discussions about the possibility of 2Baba and Annie making peace.
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