Bruno Mars announces 2026 stadium tour dates, Davido confirms release date of project with Chris Brown, Anthony Joshua pays tribute to friends Ghami and Latz. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. Bruno Mars announces 2026 Stadium Tour Dates
The Romantic Tour ♥️🌹🎶
Featuring Anderson .Paak as DJ Pee .Wee, Leon Thomas, Raye, and Victoria Monet
Presale starts 1.14
Sign up for presale access at https://t.co/gk4XUgbhQf – now until 1.12 pic.twitter.com/rfXJoWi1CV
— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) January 8, 2026
Bruno Mars has announced a major slate of 2026 stadium tour dates following the reveal of The Romantic, his first solo album in nearly a decade. The six-month trek, titled The Romantic Tour and produced by Live Nation, will span nearly 40 shows across North America, Europe, and the U.K., launching April 10 in Las Vegas. The tour will hit some of the world’s most iconic venues, including Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Wembley Stadium in London, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, marking Mars’ largest global outing since his “24K Magic” era.
Joining Bruno Mars on tour is his Silk Sonic collaborator Anderson .Paak, performing as DJ Pee .Wee, with opening acts Victoria Monét, Raye, and Leon Thomas appearing across select markets. The tour supports The Romantic, due out February 27 via Atlantic Records, with the album’s first single arriving on Friday. While the project marks Mars’s first solo full-length since 2016, he has remained highly visible through Silk Sonic’s success, recent chart-topping collaborations with Lady Gaga and Rosé, and multiple Las Vegas residencies. Tickets for The Romantic Tour go on sale following an artist presale beginning January 14, with a general onsale set for January 15.
2. Davido confirms the release date of the project with Chris Brown
Davido confirms a joint project with Chris Brown dropping in 2026 🤩🔥
– via Billboard Arabia pic.twitter.com/XRHEKIQFWC— BOUNCE (@bouncenetworks) January 8, 2026
Davido has confirmed that his long-anticipated joint project with American R&B star Chris Brown will be released in 2026, officially ending years of speculation surrounding the collaboration. The Afrobeats heavyweight made the announcement during an exclusive interview with Billboard Arabia, where he was unveiled as the cover star for the magazine’s January 2026 edition. While Davido did not disclose an exact release date or tracklist, the confirmation alone has fueled widespread excitement among fans and industry observers eager for the full-length collaboration.
The project builds on Davido and Chris Brown’s proven musical chemistry, forged through several successful singles that seamlessly blend Afrobeats, R&B, and pop. Their cross-continental partnership has been credited with expanding the global reach of Afrobeats while strengthening cultural ties between African and American music markets. As details remain under wraps, the 2026 release is already being positioned as one of the most anticipated projects of the year, with expectations that it could further redefine international collaboration in contemporary music.
3. “Nyash,” “Amala,” other Nigerian words added to Oxford Dictionary
BREAKING: Nyash’, ‘mammy market’ and ‘amala’ have been added to the Oxford Dictionary pic.twitter.com/GPjTeCgbBu
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) January 8, 2026
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its lexicon with the addition of several Nigerian words and expressions, including “nyash” and “amala,” underscoring the growing global influence of Nigerian culture on the English language. The update, published in December 2025 and carried into 2026, was announced by the OED on Wednesday and features widely used Nigerian and West African terms tied to food, music, everyday speech, markets, and pop culture. According to the dictionary, the quarterly update introduced more than 500 new words, phrases, and senses, while revising over 1,000 existing entries.
Among the newly added Nigerian words is “abeg,” defined as an interjection or adverb used to express emotions such as surprise or disbelief, alongside “amala,” a traditional Nigerian staple described as a dough made from yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour. The update also formally recognizes Afrobeats and includes other familiar expressions such as “nyash,” “Ghana Must Go,” “biko,” “Mammy Market,” and “Moi Moi.” OED Head of Pronunciations Catherine Sangster said the update reflects advances in documenting World English pronunciations, with new audio recordings added for several West African English entries. The expansion builds on earlier updates that incorporated popular Nigerian terms like “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” and “Naija,” further cementing Nigeria’s linguistic and cultural footprint in global English.
4. DMX to be posthumously ordained as minister at historic church
Forster Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church will posthumously ordain rapper @DMX as a minister, honoring his profound faith, spiritual influence.
“Earl Simmons wrestled with God in the public square, turning his pain into a ministry of raw truth […] This ordination recognizes the… pic.twitter.com/HTHbQrYYDg
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) January 7, 2026
The late hip-hop icon DMX will be posthumously ordained as a minister this month, formally honoring a spiritual journey that was often as public as his music career. The Gospel Cultural Center announced that the ordination of DMX, born Earl Simmons, will take place on Saturday, January 10, at Foster Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Tarrytown, New York. Founded in 1860 and recognized as a verified Underground Railroad safe house, the historic church was chosen for its deep ties to liberation and resilience—themes that closely mirrored DMX’s lifelong struggle with faith, pain, and redemption.
Rather than a traditional ministry rooted in sermons, DMX’s spiritual calling was expressed through prayer, music, and raw honesty about his personal battles. Bishop Dr. Osiris Imhotep, founder of the Gospel Cultural Center, said the ceremony recognizes “the divine calling he fulfilled every time he spoke a prayer into a microphone.” The service, which will include scripture from Acts 17:31, is expected to draw clergy, community leaders, and fans who connected with DMX beyond his chart-topping hits. For many, his openness about faith, especially during his lowest moments, cemented a legacy. This legacy extended far beyond hip-hop and into the realm of spiritual influence.
5. Anthony Joshua pays tribute to friends Ghami and Latz
Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher… pic.twitter.com/qIdvq9O4sO
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) January 8, 2026
Anthony Joshua has paid an emotional tribute to his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria, saying he is “finding it tough” to process their deaths. Ghami and Ayodele died after the vehicle they were traveling in, alongside the heavyweight boxer and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos. Joshua sustained minor injuries in the crash and later returned to the United Kingdom, where he attended a funeral service at a London mosque on Sunday.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Joshua thanked supporters for the love shown to the families, describing Ghami and Ayodele as “great men” whose impact he fully realized only after their deaths. Ghami had worked as Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach for more than a decade, while Ayodele was a long-time friend and personal trainer. Authorities in Ogun State have charged the driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, with causing death by dangerous driving, with the case adjourned until January 20. Joshua, who has family roots in Sagamu near the crash site, had been in Nigeria visiting relatives for the New Year following his recent victory over Jake Paul.
Featured image: @brunomars/Instagram
Our Weekday News Digest brings you a curated selection of the most compelling stories from around the globe. This week, we delve 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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