Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has secured another certification in the French music market as her 2024 single, ‘Commas’, earns Gold status. The award was issued on October 30, 2026, by France’s music industry body, the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique (SNEP), adding to her collection of recognised releases in the country.

In France, a Gold certification for a single requires a track to reach 15 million equivalent streams, calculated from actual streams, downloads and sales converted into streaming equivalents. Although ‘Commas’ did not appear on France’s official singles chart, its performance across streaming and sales platforms helped it reach the required threshold more than two years after its release.

Photo: Instagram/@ayrastarr

Released on February 2, 2024, ‘Commas’ served as one of the singles from Ayra Starr’s second studio album, The Year I Turned 21. The 15-track project arrived on May 31, 2024, with guest appearances from Asake, Anitta, Coco Jones, Giveon and Seyi Vibez. ‘Commas’ is the album’s third track, alongside songs that explore the singer’s experiences, relationships and personal growth.

The song gained considerable streaming numbers in its first few months. In April 2024, Ayra Starr announced that it had surpassed 100 million streams across platforms, roughly two months after its release. The following month, Mavin Records also noted that the track had spent five weeks at the top of the UK Afrobeats Chart while promoting her sophomore album.

Photo: Instagram/@snepmusique

‘Commas’ is the latest addition to Ayra Starr’s collection of French certifications. Her 2022 single ‘Rush’ received Diamond status in September 2023, while ‘No Love’, her collaboration with Ninho, earned Gold certification in September 2024. She also featured on Aya Nakamura‘s ‘Hypé’, which reached Diamond status in April 2025. In November 2025, ‘Santa’, a collaboration between Rvssian, Rauw Alejandro and Ayra Starr, also received Gold certification.

Nigerian singer Burna Boy attended the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, where he presented the Sócrates Award to Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka. During the presentation, the singer also spoke about a football academy he established in Nigeria to help develop young talent.

The ceremony took place at the London Palladium, which hosted the 70th edition of the football awards. Burna Boy was introduced by the event’s hosts, Kate Scott and former French international footballer Thierry Henry, before presenting the trophy to Saka.

Photo: Instagram/@unorthodoxreviews

Before presenting the Award to Bukayo Saka, Burna Boy explained that he had started the academy a few years ago to support football in Nigeria.

“Something I started a few years ago, just to support the football culture back home. Hopefully, inshallah, one day I’ll come back here to see one of my people getting an award in Ballon d’Or,” He said at the event.

Burna Boy made history as the first Nigerian artiste to present an award at the Ballon d’Or. He previously performed at the 2023 UEFA Champions League final kick-off show in Istanbul, Turkey.

Photo: Instagram/@unorthodoxreviews

Saka received the Award for his charitable work with BigShoe, an organisation that helps children access medical treatment.

In 2022, Saka helped fund medical procedures for 120 children in Kano State, Nigeria and in 2023, He supported surgeries for 100 children in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.

France Football established the Sócrates Award in 2022 in collaboration with Peace and Sport. It recognises footballers involved in humanitarian work and social causes. The award is named after the late Brazilian footballer Sócrates, who was known for his activism as well as his career on the pitch.

Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at 57 following a brief illness, his family announced on Friday. His passing marks the end of a career spanning more than three decades, during which he became widely recognised for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake.

The family announced his death in a statement shared on his official Instagram page, thanking fans and well-wishers for their support and prayers. The statement did not disclose a specific cause of death, and funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of publication.

Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), also paid tribute to the actor on social media, describing him as a great thespian.

Photo: Instagram/@francis.duru

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education before relocating to Nigeria for university. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. His breakthrough came six years later when he played Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The performance established him as a recognisable face in Nigerian cinema and remains one of the defining roles of his career.

Over the years, he appeared in numerous Nigerian productions, building a filmography that extended beyond his breakthrough performance. His work in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award in the Igbo-language category at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.

His contributions to the industry also extended beyond acting. In 2007, he received a United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in recognition of his influence on young people. Three years later, he served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Photo: Instagram/@francis.duru

Duru’s death comes months after he publicly denied reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June 2026, a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media, prompting concern among fans. He subsequently addressed the claims in a video posted on Instagram, describing the footage as fabricated and malicious.

Away from his career, Duru was married to Adokiye, whom he wed in 2003. They had four children together. In August 2024, the family lost their 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, a tragedy that drew condolences from fans and colleagues.

Duru leaves behind a career spanning more than three decades, from his early screen appearance in Missing Mark to the role of Ahanna that brought him widespread recognition. His performances, industry honours and service to the Actors Guild of Nigeria remain part of his contribution to Nigerian cinema.