Veteran Kannywood Actress Wasila Isma’il Passes Away at 46

The Hausa film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actress Wasila Isma’il, who passed away at the age of 46.

The sad news was confirmed on Sunday, May 24, 2026, by her ex-husband, Al-Amin Chiroma, in a heartbreaking social media post. According to Chiroma, the actress died at the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hospital in Kaduna after a prolonged illness.

Born in Kaduna, Wasila Isma’il was one of the foundational and most prominent figures of the modern Kannywood industry. She kicked off her acting career in 1998 with the movie Jinin Masoya, but catapulted to absolute stardom in 1999 after playing the titular character in the blockbuster movie Wasila, directed by Yakubu Lere and starring alongside Kannywood kingpin Ali Nuhu.

In a past interview, she shared an interesting piece of Kannywood trivia, revealing that the iconic movie was originally titled Jamila. She requested the name change to protect her personal identity, and the director's agreement ultimately gave her the screen name that would make her a household name across Northern Nigeria.

The late actress is survived by her children. Following the news of her passing, an outpouring of grief and tributes has taken over social media, with fans, colleagues, and filmmakers mourning her as a rare talent whose pioneering contributions to the growth of Hausa cinema will never be forgotten.

Please share your condolences and tributes for the late Wasila Isma’il and her family in the comments below.

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