Lauryn Hill to lead a Grammy tribute to Roberta Flack And D’AngeloAfro Nation announces star-studded line-up for 2026 edition, boss of Senegal Dad Thiaw banned after AFCON final chaos. Stay informed with our Rave News Summarywhich summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to stay informed, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
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1. Lauryn Hill leads a Grammy tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo
Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack #Grammys celebrating two of R&B and soul’s most enduring voices. pic.twitter.com/qBKHFXuE1k
— Okplayer (@okayplayer) January 29, 2026
Lauryn Hill will deliver one of the most anticipated moments of the 68th annual Grammy Awards, where she will lead a tribute honoring the late Roberta Flack and D’Angelo during Sunday’s ceremony. The performance positions Hill as one of this year’s standout guest artists, a role the Grammys often reserves for a respected artist capable of capturing the attention of both viewers at home and stars in the audience.
Other artists announced for the evening include Justin Bieber, Sabrina TimmermanAnd Cut of Pharrell Williamsin addition to a segment spotlighting all eight top new artist nominees. A successful return to the Grammy stage could make Hill’s performance one of the most memorable in recent years, reflecting the emotional impact of Tracy Chapmans Duet from 2024 with Luke Combs.
Hill’s connection to both honors runs deep. As a member of the Fugeesshe helped reintroduce Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” to a new generation with the group’s 1996 remake, a hit that underscored Hill’s emergence as a unique R&B voice. D’Angelo, who died in October at age 51, famously collaborated with Hill on “Nothing Even Matters,” from her landmark 1998 solo debut, Lauryn Hill’s bad upbringing which dominated the 1999 Grammys. Following their deaths, Hill shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, expressing regret for lost time with D’Angelo and praising Flack for expanding the creative possibilities of soul music, sentiments that will now resonate on one of music’s biggest stages.
2. Afro Nation announces a star-studded line-up for the 2026 edition
PHASE 3 IS HERE 🚨
Legacy energy meets Afro Nation debuts. This is the sound of a summer taking shape 🔥🎟️ Sign up for access to the best price tags via the link in bio.
📆 Early Access opens on Thursday 5 February – 10am (GMT) pic.twitter.com/hgQxTZ2adz— Afro Nation (@afronation) January 29, 2026
Afro Nation Portugal has officially announced a star-studded line-up for the 2026 edition, cementing its status as one of the world’s leading celebrations of Afrobeats and African music. The festival returns to the sun-drenched shores of Praia da Rocha in the Algarve from July 3 to 5 and will once again draw global attention to the sound of the continent.
Nigerian superstars Wizkid, AsakeAnd Burna boy are confirmed as headliners, alongside the South African Grammy winner’s headline debut Tyla. They are accompanied by an American rap star Gunna as a special guest, with additional appearances by Kehlaniwho made her Afro Nation debut, Mariah the scientist, Olamide, Young Jonn, Awilo Longomba, Donkero, Niska, Ludmila, Good, Djodjeand more.
The 2026 edition also expands Afro Nation’s musical footprint with the introduction of the Afrotronic Stage, a new arena dedicated to African electronic sounds such as Afro House, Afro Tech, Gqom and 3-Step, reflecting the continent’s rapidly evolving soundscape. Fan favorites also welcome the Piano People Stage, showcasing the best of Amapiano Madumane (DJ Maphorisa), Uncle WafflesAnd Focalistic. With its blend of African excellence and international star power, Afro Nation 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and culturally defining editions of the festival to date.
3. Ghana grants citizenship to American streamer IShowSpeed after touring Africa
IShowSpeed has captivated Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs enough to get a Ghanaian passport 🇬🇭Government officials believe the country has already benefited from Speed’s visit during his Africa Tour🖤 pic.twitter.com/YGP2T3YxsB
— REVOLT (@revolttv) January 28, 2026
Ghana has granted citizenship to the popular American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeedborn Darren Jason Watkins Jr.after his recent tour of Africa, the country’s foreign minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwahas announced. The 21-year-old content creator, who has amassed around 50 million subscribers on YouTube, is said to have demonstrated “irrefutable ties” to Ghana during his month-long stay on the continent. In a statement addressed to the Ghanaian YouTuber Anger MayaAblakwa confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to IShowSpeed, commending both creators for promoting Ghana and Africa on the world stage.
IShowSpeed’s African tour, which kicked off on December 29, saw him visit around 20 countries, using his platform to showcase African culture, tourism and the continent’s growing technology space, while challenging long-held stereotypes. The decision to grant him citizenship is linked to that of Ghana Beyond return initiative, which aims to strengthen ties with Africans in the diaspora and people with strong ties to the country.
While the announcement was welcomed by some Ghanaians as a boost to the country’s international visibility and soft power, it has also sparked debate, with critics questioning the long-term value of extending citizenship to foreign celebrities.
4. Actor Paul Dano responds to Quentin Tarantino’s criticism of him
Paul Dano is finally speaking out about Quentin Tarantino, calling him the “weakest actor in SAG,” and saying the industry support that followed has been “very nice.”
“I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke for me so I didn’t have to.” https://t.co/ZwmX5pNwim pic.twitter.com/N1idApHYfc
— Variety (@Variety) January 28, 2026
Actor Paul Dano responded to it, albeit indirectly Quentin Tarantino’s recent criticism after the filmmaker labeled him as a “big gigantic mistake” in There will be blood. Tarantino made the comments during an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast released last month, says the 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson film would have ranked higher among his favorite films of the 21st century if it weren’t for Dano’s performance, which he described as “weak” And “uninteresting.” Dano, who played twin brothers Eli and Paul Sunday in the film, initially remained silent when several prominent figures in Hollywood publicly came to his defense.
Speak with Variety during a screening on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Little Miss Sunshine at the Sundance Film Festival, Dano avoided addressing Tarantino directly, but expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support he received. “That was very nice. I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke for me, so I didn’t have to do that,” he said.
Stars included Toni Collette, Ben Stiller, Reese WitherspoonAnd George Clooney praised Dano’s talent and character, while Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton And Valerie Faris criticized Tarantino’s comments, calling them a “shyness” and noting the widespread affection and respect Dano commands within the industry.
5. Senegal boss Pape Thiaw suspended after AFCON final chaos
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: The sanctions after the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal have been announced: ❌🇲🇦🇸🇳
🇸🇳Senegal:
🟥💰 5-MATCH SUSPENSION for Pape Thiaw + $100,000 fine
🟥 SUSPENSION OF 2 MATCHES for Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr
💰 $615,000 fine for Senegalese FA
🇲🇦… pic.twitter.com/mPhRTTqIWh
— Deliver news live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 29, 2026
Senegalese head coach Pape Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after chaotic scenes during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. CAF said Thiaw was guilty “unsportsmanlike conduct” And “Discredit the game” after ordering his players to leave the field in protest at a stoppage time penalty awarded to Morocco during the January 18 final in Rabat. The incident led to a delay of around 17 minutes before Senegal returned to the pitch. They eventually won the match 1–0 after extra time to secure their second AFCON title in five years.
The final sparked a wave of disciplinary action, with fines and bans totaling almost £1 million. Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye And Ismaila Sarr was given a two-match ban, while the Senegalese Football Federation was fined $615,000 for breach of CAF’s disciplinary code and fan misconduct. Players from Morocco were also punished with Ishmael Saibari received a three-match suspension and Achraf HakimI get a two-match suspension, one of which is for twelve months.
CAF also rejected a bid by the Moroccan Football Federation to overturn the result, confirming that any sanctions will only apply to CAF competitions and will not affect preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Featured image: Erika Goldring/Getty Images
Our Weekday News Digest brings you a curated selection of the most compelling stories from around the world. This week we dive into the latest celebrity headlines from Hollywood to Nollywood, explore trending global news and highlight the most exciting sports developments of 2026.
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