VETERAN Kannywood actress Wasila Isma’il has died at the age of 46 after a prolonged illness.
Her former husband, journalist and former editor of LEADERSHIP Hausa, Al-Amin Chiroma, confirmed her death in a social media post Late on Sunday.
“Innalillahi Wainna Ilaihirrajiun. Wasila Isma’il is dead. She died at the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria Hospital, Kaduna,” he wrote.
According to him, the actress passed away on Sunday following a prolonged illness. She is survived by her children.
The late actress was regarded as one of the prominent figures in the Kannywood film industry and was widely celebrated for her performances in several Hausa movies.
Wasila began her acting career in 1998 with the film, “Jinin Masoya,” but gained widespread recognition in 1999 after starring in “Wasila,” directed by Yakubu Lere alongside popular actor Ali Nuhu.
Born in Kaduna, she became a household name following the success of the film that bore her name.
In an earlier interview, the actress had revealed that the movie was originally titled “Jamila” before she requested a change.
“I didn’t like the name Jamila because I feared it might tarnish my name, so I asked for it to be changed, and the director agreed,” she had said.
Following the announcement of her death, fans and colleagues flooded social media with tributes, describing her as a talented actress whose contributions to the Hausa film industry would remain unforgettable.
