Lauryn Hill to lead Grammy tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo, Afro Nation announces a star-studded lineup for 2026 edition, Senegal boss Pape Thiaw banned after AFCON final chaos. 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. Lauryn Hill to lead a Grammy tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo
Lauryn Hill will front a tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack at the #Grammys honoring two of R&B and soul’s most enduring voices. pic.twitter.com/qBKHFXuE1k
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) January 29, 2026
Lauryn Hill is set to 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 the ceremony on Sunday. The appearance positions Hill as one of this year’s standout guest performers, a role the Grammys often reserve for a revered artist capable of commanding the attention of both viewers at home and stars in the audience.
Other performers announced for the night include Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and Clipse with Pharrell Williams, alongside a segment spotlighting all eight best new artist nominees. A successful return to the Grammy stage could place Hill’s performance among the show’s most memorable in recent years, echoing the emotional impact of Tracy Chapman’s 2024 duet with Luke Combs.
Hill’s connection to both honorees runs deep. As a member of the Fugees, she helped reintroduce Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” to a new generation with the group’s 1996 remake, a chart-topping hit that underscored Hill’s emergence as a singular R&B-inflected voice. D’Angelo, who died in October at 51, famously collaborated with Hill on “Nothing Even Matters” from her landmark 1998 solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which went on to dominate the 1999 Grammys. Following their deaths, Hill shared heartfelt tributes on Instagram, expressing regret over lost time with D’Angelo and praising Flack for expanding the creative possibilities of soul music, sentiments now set to resonate on one of music’s biggest stages.
2. Afro Nation announces a star-studded lineup 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 tickets via the link in bio.
📆 Early Access opens Thurs 5 Feb – 10AM (GMT) pic.twitter.com/hgQxTZ2adz— Afro Nation (@afronation) January 29, 2026
Afro Nation Portugal has officially announced a star-studded lineup for its 2026 edition, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s biggest celebrations of Afrobeats and African music. Set to return to the sun-soaked shores of Praia da Rocha in the Algarve from July 3 to July 5, the festival will once again bring global attention to the continent’s sound.
Nigerian superstars Wizkid, Asake, and Burna Boy are confirmed as headliners, alongside the headline debut of South African Grammy winner Tyla. They will be joined by American rap star Gunna as a special guest, with additional performances from Kehlani, making her Afro Nation debut, Mariah the Scientist, Olamide, Young Jonn, Awilo Longomba, Darkoo, Niska, Ludmilla, Bien, Djodje, and 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 will also welcome back the Piano People Stage, spotlighting the best of Amapiano, led by Madumane (DJ Maphorisa), Uncle Waffles, and Focalistic. With its blend of African excellence and international star power, Afro Nation 2026 is shaping up to be one of the festival’s most ambitious and culturally defining editions yet.
3. Ghana grants citizenship to US streamer IShowSpeed after Africa tour
IShowSpeed has captivated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana enough to be granted a Ghanaian passport 🇬🇭Government officials believe the nation 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 popular American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed, born Darren Jason Watkins Jr., following his recent tour across Africa, the country’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced. The 21-year-old content creator, who has amassed around 50 million subscribers on YouTube, was said to have demonstrated “irrefutable ties” to Ghana during his month-long stay on the continent. In a statement addressed to Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, Ablakwa confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to IShowSpeed, praising both creators for promoting Ghana and Africa on the global stage.
IShowSpeed’s African tour, which began on December 29, saw him visit about 20 countries, using his platform to spotlight African culture, tourism, and the continent’s growing technology space while challenging long-held stereotypes. The decision to grant him citizenship has been linked to Ghana’s Beyond the Return initiative, which aims to strengthen ties with Africans in the diaspora and those with strong connections to the country.
While the announcement has been welcomed by some Ghanaians as a boost to the nation’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 finally speaks out on Quentin Tarantino calling him the “weakest f*cking actor in SAG,” saying the industry support that followed was “really nice.”
“I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn’t have to.” https://t.co/ZwmX5pNwim pic.twitter.com/N1idApHYfc
— Variety (@Variety) January 28, 2026
Actor Paul Dano has responded, albeit indirectly, to Quentin Tarantino’s recent criticism after the filmmaker labeled him a “big giant flaw” in There Will Be Blood. Tarantino made the remarks during an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast released last month, saying the 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson film would have ranked higher among his favorite movies of the 21st century if not for Dano’s performance, which he described as “weak” and “uninteresting.” Dano, who portrayed twin brothers Eli and Paul Sunday in the film, initially stayed silent as several prominent figures in Hollywood publicly came to his defense.
Speaking to Variety at a 20th-anniversary screening of Little Miss Sunshine at the Sundance Film Festival, Dano avoided addressing Tarantino directly but expressed gratitude for the wave of support he received. “That was really nice. I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me, so I didn’t have to,” he said.
Stars including Toni Collette, Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, and George Clooney praised Dano’s talent and character, while Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris criticized Tarantino’s comments, calling them an “embarrassment” and pointing to the widespread affection and respect Dano commands within the industry.
5. Senegal boss Pape Thiaw banned after AFCON final chaos
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: The sanctions following the Morocco–Senegal AFCON final have been announced: ❌🇲🇦🇸🇳
🇸🇳 Senegal:
🟥💰 5-MATCH SUSPENSION for Pape Thiaw + $100,000 fine
🟥 2-MATCH SUSPENSION for Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr
💰 $615,000 fine for the Senegalese FA
🇲🇦… pic.twitter.com/mPhRTTqIWh
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 29, 2026
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following chaotic scenes during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. CAF said Thiaw was guilty of “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute” after he instructed his players to leave the pitch 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 field. They eventually won the match 1-0 after extra time to secure their second AFCON title in five years.
The final triggered a wave of disciplinary action, with fines and bans totaling close to £1 million. Senegal forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr received two-match bans, while the Senegal Football Federation was fined $615,000 for breaches of CAF’s disciplinary code and supporter misconduct. Morocco players were also punished, with Ismael Saibari handed a three-match ban and Achraf Hakimi receiving a two-match suspension, one of which is suspended for 12 months.
CAF also dismissed a bid by Morocco’s football federation to overturn the result, confirming that all sanctions apply only 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 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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