Omoni Oboli, the Nigerian actress, has revealed how she lost a movie role after refusing a kiss request from a director.

In a chat with the comedian AY Makun, Omoni said the incident occurred when she tried to re-establish her acting career after returning to Nigeria from the UK with her family.

The 46-year-old said the director made the unusual demand during an audition, asking her to kiss him to confirm her suitability for the role.

The actress said she declined and questioned the need for the request, as they were not on set.

She added that her refusal came at a cost, as she was ultimately denied the role she had traveled for.

“When I came back from the UK with my family and I was trying to come back into the industry as a mum with three kids, one director asked to kiss me at an audition, and I could not understand why he would do that,” she said.

“So I was like ‘Is this an audition?’ and he was like ‘yeah, I just want to see’ and I said ‘sorry, I cannot do it because I did not see any reason I would be kissing you the director when we are not on set.

“And so I said ‘oh no sorry, I cannot.’ Guess what? I did not get the role that I travelled for, and I ended up travelling back without playing the role.”

Omoni, who is married to Nnamdi Oboli, is a mother of three sons.

Recently, Tobe Oboli, her first son, welcomed his first child with Marelle Bergsma, his wife.

Paul Di’Anno, the original frontman of Iron Maiden, has passed away at 66.

Conquest Music, his record label, confirmed his death in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday.

The label revealed that Di’Anno died at his home in Salisbury, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.

“On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di’Anno,” the statement reads.

“Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

“Conquest Music are proud to have had Paul Di’Anno in our artist family and ask his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory.”

Iron Maiden also paid tribute to their former lead singer in an Instagram post.

The music band members expressed gratitude for the time they shared with him and extended condolences to his family.

“We were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more,” the band wrote.

“On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and close friends. Rest In Peace Paul.”

Born on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London, Di’Anno rose to fame as Iron Maiden’s lead singer from 1978 to 1981.

He was the voice behind their groundbreaking self-titled debut album ‘Iron Maiden’ and the follow-up ‘Killers’, which became influential in shaping the heavy metal genre.

He parted ways with the band in 1981, admitting that his lifestyle of “non-stop partying” had become unsustainable and unfair to both the band and its fans. He was succeeded by Bruce Dickinson.

In September 2024, Di’Anno released The ‘Book of the Beast’, a career retrospective album featuring highlights from his post-Iron Maiden recordings.

Watch Di’Anno’s 1980 live performance with the Iron Maiden band below:

Mike Dada, the president of The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has lost his wife Modupe Temitope Dada.

Dada announced Modupe’s demise via his Instagram page. She was said to have died at the age of 48 at Dutchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday.

He shared the poster of her burial arrangements with an accompanying caption that reads “words fail me”.

The organisers of AFRIMA, in a statement, revealed that Modupe “passed away peacefully” after a brief illness.

She was also described as a loving and compassionate person who put family and Africa first.

“It is with immeasurable grief that we the Dada family confirm the passing of our wife and sister, Modupe Temitope Dada aka Dupsy, Mama Africa, on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Dutchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.

“A true and loving wife and mother indeed. She lived all her life in the banking and entertainment industry and brought to us the affection and compassion that we have come to love so much.

“The family submits to the will of the Almighty God and asks for the prayers and support of kind-hearted individuals during this difficult time.

“She was a loving wife, mother and friend, who always put family and Africa first. Her passing has left a void that will be impossible to fill.”

Modupe’s service of songs and burial have been slated for October 23 and 24 respectively.

The events will be held at Grace Assembly, Yard 158, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun-Ikeja, Lagos.