Veteran Kannywood actress Wasila Isma’il dies at 46 after prolonged illness

The Kannywood film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actress Wasila Isma’il, who passed away at the age of 46 after battling a prolonged illness.

Her death was confirmed by family members and her former husband, Al-Amin Chiroma, who announced the sad news in a social media post on Sunday.

According to Chiroma, the actress died at the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hospital in Kaduna, where she had reportedly been receiving treatment after suffering from illness for some time.

Wasila Isma’il was widely known in the Kannywood movie industry for her contributions to Hausa-language films and her presence on screen over the years. Her passing has left fans, colleagues, and loved ones grieving the loss of a respected figure in the entertainment industry.

“Innalillahi Wainna Ilaihirrajiun. Wasila Isma’il is dead. She died at the FOMWAN Hospital, Kaduna,” he wrote.

Wasila Isma’il, one of the prominent faces of the Kannywood film industry, is survived by her children. She was widely celebrated for her performances in several Hausa-language films that helped shape the early growth of the industry.

Born in Kaduna, she began her acting career in 1998 with Jinin Masoya, but rose to prominence in 1999 after starring in the hit film Wasila, directed by Yakubu Lere alongside popular actor Ali Nuhu.

In an earlier interview, she had revealed that the film’s original title was Jamila, but she requested a change to protect her name and identity, a request the director granted.

Following news of her death, fans, colleagues, and industry stakeholders have taken to social media to mourn her, describing her as a talented actress whose legacy in Kannywood will be long remembered.