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Francis Duru’s biography covers Ahanna in Rattlesnake, theatre training, Mboputa, wife Adokiye and carefully attributed October 2026 reports. Francis Duru is a Nigerian actor best known for playing Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s Rattlesnake . His career connects theatre, the early home-video industry, language-based filmmaking and the training of younger performers. On 23 October 2026 , TVC reported a family announcement of his death . The report described a brief illness without identifying a medical diagnosis. Duru’s public record extends beyond that developing news. He is a University of Port Harcourt theatre graduate, an award-winning screen performer and a teacher whose interviews place considerable importance on craft, family and faith. Who is Francis Duru? Francis Duru is a Nigerian actor associated with Ahanna in Rattlesnake . Born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents, he trained in theatre and built a career across film, stage and mentoring. His work includes Blood Money , Stigma and the award-winning performance in Mboputa . The actor behind Ahanna For many viewers, Duru’s name is inseparable from Ahanna. His performance in Rattlesnake supplied the role through which a much wider audience came to recognise him. The film remains central to institutional accounts of his career, including the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s birthday profile . The commission’s selected credits also include Blood Money , Nnenda , Home in Exile , Stigma , The Good Husband and Mboputa . Duru’s trajectory belongs alongside the varied careers of Nollywood veterans such as Nkem Owoh . Their individual routes differ, but each illustrates how a memorable screen identity can become the public shorthand for a much broader working life. Cameroon, Imo roots and theatre training Duru’s Penn State Global Virtual Forum biography identifies him as Cameroon-born, of Nigerian parentage, and from Okai, Eziama, in Isiala Mbano, Imo State. Birthplace and nationality are distinct: the university profile explicitly describes him as Nigerian. His birth date is 27 July 1969 , according to the Copyright Commission. That makes him 57 as of 23 October 2026 . Continue Reading Full Article BIOGRAPHY Francis Duru Biography: Ahanna, Nollywood Career, Wife and Family By Kamau Bahati Entertainment Editor Kamau Bahati Home Comment Oct 23, 2026 Oct 23, 2026 7 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Francis Duru is a Nigerian actor best known for playing Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s Rattlesnake . His career connects theatre, the early home-video industry, language-based filmmaking and the training of younger performers. On 23 October 2026 , TVC reported a family announcement of his death . The report described a brief illness without identifying a medical diagnosis. Duru’s public record extends beyond that developing news. He is a University of Port Harcourt theatre graduate, an award-winning screen performer and a teacher whose interviews place considerable importance on craft, family and faith. Who is Francis Duru? Francis Duru is a Nigerian actor associated with Ahanna in Rattlesnake . Born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents, he trained in theatre and built a career across film, stage and mentoring. His work includes Blood Money , Stigma and the award-winning performance in Mboputa . The actor behind Ahanna For many viewers, Duru’s name is inseparable from Ahanna. His performance in Rattlesnake supplied the role through which a much wider audience came to recognise him. The film remains central to institutional accounts of his career, including the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s birthday profile . The commission’s selected credits also include Blood Money , Nnenda , Home in Exile , Stigma , The Good Husband and Mboputa . Duru’s trajectory belongs alongside the varied careers of Nollywood veterans such as Nkem Owoh . Their individual routes differ, but each illustrates how a memorable screen identity can become the public shorthand for a much broader working life. Cameroon, Imo roots and theatre training Duru’s Penn State Global Virtual Forum biography identifies him as Cameroon-born, of Nigerian parentage, and from Okai, Eziama, in Isiala Mbano, Imo State. Birthplace and nationality are distinct: the university profile explicitly describes him as Nigerian. His birth date is 27 July 1969 , according to the Copyright Commission. That makes him 57 as of 23 October 2026 . The University of Port Harcourt supplied his theatre foundation. Penn State also records a master’s degree in development communication from Nasarawa State University. This combination helps explain the range of his professional activities: acting was accompanied by teaching, consulting and an interest in using performance to communicate with communities. ADVERTISEMENT His background also places him in the theatre-to-screen tradition visible in Ngozi Nwosu’s career , where stage practice and popular entertainment overlap. A career built around learning In a January 2025 interview with PUNCH , Duru described his first movie as The Missing Mask , filmed around 1992–1993. His recollection differs from institutional summaries that list Missing Mark in 1989. His own account nevertheless makes the importance of formal training clear: he described entering the production with theatre experience already behind him. He also resisted treating fame as the highest measure of achievement: “I am proud to be called an actor.” For Duru, watching other performers was part of continuing education. He also described work as a master of ceremonies, consultant, voice artist and masterclass teacher. The public image of a familiar film actor therefore represents only part of his professional activity. Duru won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) for Mboputa at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards , as recorded in the contemporary winners’ list published by P.M. News . The precise category is important. It recognises a particular performance within Igbo-language cinema, rather than an unspecified overall best-actor title. It also demonstrates that his professional record continued well beyond the film most closely attached to his name. ADVERTISEMENT Adokiye, fatherhood and faith Duru’s wife is publicly identified as Adokiye . PUNCH’s 2022 anniversary report records their marriage in 2003. In his 2025 interview, he described meeting her while they were at the University of Port Harcourt and building their relationship through friendship. His discussion of bereavement was closely connected to his Christian faith. He spoke about the family learning to live with loss, rather than describing grief as something quickly overcome. The account offers personal context without requiring the identities or private lives of his other children. What the October reports establish PUNCH’s 23 October report also attributes the death announcement to his family. Business Post additionally reports statements by Actors Guild of Nigeria president Abubakar Yakubu and BON founder Seun Oloketuyi. The reports describe a brief illness but do not identify a medical diagnosis. That description does not establish a specific cause of death or connect the announcement to earlier health rumours. Francis Duru’s career timeline Year Event Significance 1969 Born on 27 July Birth date recorded by the Copyright Commission 1990s Played Ahanna in Rattlesnake Established his best-known screen identity 2003 Married Adokiye Marriage later marked in public anniversary coverage 2020 Won the BON leading-actor award in Igbo for Mboputa Recognised a later-career performance 2025 Featured in Penn State’s Global Virtual Forum Documented his wider work in theatre and communication Francis Duru FAQs What is Francis Duru famous for? He is particularly associated with Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s Rattlesnake . Trending Now Francis Duru Biography: Ahanna, Nollywood Career, Wife and Family . Biography DRC Signs $877m MetroKin Airport Rail Agreement . Infrastructure NSFAS 2027 Deadline: Apply by 31 October Through Official Channels . Education Who Is Sam Matekane? Lesotho’s PM and His New SADC Role . Biography Popular Today Biography Francis Duru Biography: Ahanna, Nollywood Career, Wife and Family . Biography Omah Lay Biography: Age, Real Name, Songs and Career . Entertainment Omah Lay Injury Reports: What the Accounts Establish . Health News Abuja Ebola Response: Isolation, Contact Tracing and Public Advice . Education Reuben Fasoranti Biography: Afenifere Leader and Educator . ADVERTISEMENT How old is Francis Duru? His recorded birth date is 27 July 1969, making him 57 on 23 October 2026. Is Francis Duru Nigerian or Cameroonian? He is identified as Nigerian. He was born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents. Where did he study? He studied theatre at the University of Port Harcourt. Penn State also records postgraduate training in development communication at Nasarawa State University. Who is his wife? His wife is publicly identified as Adokiye Duru; their marriage dates to 2003. Which award did he win for Mboputa? He won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 BON Awards. Has his death been reported? Yes. TVC and PUNCH published reports on 23 October 2026, attributing the announcement to his family. Business Post also reports statements by industry figures. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Francis Duru Biography: Ahanna, Nollywood Career, Wife and Family His Rattlesnake role, theatre training, award-winning work and family, with current reports attributed. . Biography Omah Lay Biography: Age, Real Name, Songs and Career From Port Harcourt to Clarity of Mind: the singer’s background, albums and awards. . Entertainment Omah Lay Injury Reports: What the Accounts Establish Reports describe a rehearsal incident, but medical details and performance changes need confirmation . Health News Abuja Ebola Response: Isolation, Contact Tracing and Public Advice One imported case is confirmed; contacts under monitoring are not additional confirmed infections. . Tags Nigeria Nigeria Cameroon Cameroon

NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October 2026. Check official application steps, supporting forms, status tracking and fraud warnings. The NSFAS statement published by the South African government also warns against people charging for application assistance or promising guaranteed funding. Applying on time starts the assessment process; it does not guarantee an award. The closing date is 31 October 2026, and NSFAS says there will be no extension. Applicants should complete and submit their application through an official NSFAS channel, attach the required documents and retain their reference number. A saved application is not the same as a submitted one. Complete the application, then submit it The official 2027 application guidance gives an application window of 18 September to 31 October 2026. It describes the process as free and allows applicants to work online using a phone or another device. Start by creating or accessing your myNSFAS profile. New applicants need their South African ID number, cellphone number and email address. Existing users should sign in to their account rather than assume they must begin again. Enter your personal and household information carefully, provide the requested consent and attach supporting documents. Review the application before submitting. Keep the reference number and return to your account to check whether NSFAS needs anything further. XTRAfrica’s earlier NSFAS application overview provides background. For the current cycle, use the forms and instructions on NSFAS’s own 2027 pages. Check the funding category and requested forms The NSFAS funding FAQs distinguish bursaries from loans and explain that financial eligibility is only one part of the assessment. Applicants must also satisfy the other applicable requirements. For non-SASSA bursary applicants, the published gross combined household-income threshold is R350,000 or lessa year. For applicants with disabilities, it is R600,000 or less. Verified SASSA grant recipients meet the financial requirement, but must still complete the applicable process. Check that the institution and qualification qualify for funding. Continue Reading Full Article EDUCATION NSFAS 2027 Deadline: Apply by 31 October Through Official Channels By Kamau Bahati Entertainment Editor Kamau Bahati Home Comment Oct 22, 2026 Oct 22, 2026 4 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: The NSFAS statement published by the South African government also warns against people charging for application assistance or promising guaranteed funding. Applying on time starts the assessment process; it does not guarantee an award. The closing date is 31 October 2026, and NSFAS says there will be no extension. Applicants should complete and submit their application through an official NSFAS channel, attach the required documents and retain their reference number. A saved application is not the same as a submitted one. Complete the application, then submit it The official 2027 application guidance gives an application window of 18 September to 31 October 2026. It describes the process as free and allows applicants to work online using a phone or another device. Start by creating or accessing your myNSFAS profile. New applicants need their South African ID number, cellphone number and email address. Existing users should sign in to their account rather than assume they must begin again. Enter your personal and household information carefully, provide the requested consent and attach supporting documents. Review the application before submitting. Keep the reference number and return to your account to check whether NSFAS needs anything further. ADVERTISEMENT XTRAfrica’s earlier NSFAS application overview provides background. For the current cycle, use the forms and instructions on NSFAS’s own 2027 pages. Check the funding category and requested forms The NSFAS funding FAQs distinguish bursaries from loans and explain that financial eligibility is only one part of the assessment. Applicants must also satisfy the other applicable requirements. For non-SASSA bursary applicants, the published gross combined household-income threshold is R350,000 or lessa year. For applicants with disabilities, it is R600,000 or less. Verified SASSA grant recipients meet the financial requirement, but must still complete the applicable process. Check that the institution and qualification qualify for funding. A complete, signed consent form allows financial verification. Other forms depend on circumstances. Read the requirements attached to your application rather than assuming every applicant has the same checklist. ADVERTISEMENT Use clear, complete files. Check names and ID numbers, required signatures, every page and the correct year’s form. A readable document should show the entire page without cropped corners, glare or obscured text. Keep the 2027 cycle separate from earlier windows This deadline concerns funding for the 2027 academic year . It is separate from the 2026 TVET Trimester 3 application window previously covered by XTRAfrica. Check the year displayed in your account before completing an application or reading an outcome. A message concerning an earlier cycle should not be treated as confirmation that a new application has been submitted. After submission, read the full status message and any request for additional information. XTRAfrica’s 2026 status-check explainer describes the distinction between receipt, assessment and later stages, but applicants should follow the current wording and deadlines in their own account. Trending Now DRC Signs $877m MetroKin Airport Rail Agreement . Infrastructure NSFAS 2027 Deadline: Apply by 31 October Through Official Channels . Education Who Is Sam Matekane? Lesotho’s PM and His New SADC Role . Biography Omah Lay Biography: Age, Real Name, Songs and Career . Biography Popular Today Education NSFAS 2027 Deadline: Apply by 31 October Through Official Channels . Biography Kwagga Smith Biography: Age, Real Name and Springboks Career . Biography Lazola Maku Biography: Age, Amajita Career and Sundowns Move . Government Announcements SARS Trust Penalties: What Trustees Should Check . Social Service Joburg Power Outage: City Power Withdraws Restoration Target . ADVERTISEMENT Do not pay for a promised outcome The NSFAS fraud-prevention advice says applicants should not pay anyone to process an application or follow up its outcome. It also warns against sharing myNSFAS login details and entering personal information through imitation links or groups. Keep control of your account, including when using a shared computer. Log out after each session. Someone offering assistance cannot guarantee approval, and a payment request should not be mistaken for an official application requirement. Use the official NSFAS contact page for assistance. It lists 08000 67327 and info@nsfas.org.za for general student enquiries, and speakup@nsfas.org.za for information about suspected fraud or corruption. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Education NSFAS 2027 Deadline: Apply by 31 October Through Official Channels Check the application steps, required forms and fraud warnings before the funding window closes. . Biography Kwagga Smith Biography: Age, Real Name and Springboks Career From Mpumalanga and the Blitzboks to two World Cup titles, Japanese rugby and life on the farm. . Biography Lazola Maku Biography: Age, Amajita Career and Sundowns Move The South African midfielder’s journey from Ubuntu to continental honours and a new club chapter. . Government Announcements SARS Trust Penalties: What Trustees Should Check Check overdue ITR12T returns and final demands separately from the current trust filing deadline. . Tags Southern Africa News Southern Africa News Breaking News Breaking News South Africa South Africa

Who is Sam Matekane? Explore Lesotho’s prime minister’s background, business career, election breakthrough and incoming SADC Organ role. Sam Matekane is Lesotho’s businessman-turned-prime minister, whose rapid entry into electoral politics brought him to office in October 2022. On 21 October 2026, the Southern African Development Community elected him incoming chairperson of its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, adding a regional security responsibility to his national leadership role. His election concerns the Organ’s leadership arrangement, rather than SADC’s overall chairpersonship. It follows a career built first in private enterprise and then through the Revolution for Prosperity party, which became the largest party in Lesotho’s parliament at its first general election. Who is Sam Matekane? Sam Matekane is Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, a businessman and politician serving as Lesotho’s prime minister since October 2022. He founded Revolution for Prosperity and previously built the Matekane Group of Companies. In October 2026, SADC elected him incoming chair of its politics, defence and security Organ. What SADC elected him to do The SADC summit announcement identifies Matekane as the incoming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The decision was taken at a virtual extraordinary summit on 21 October, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Matekane completes the Organ Troika alongside its current chairperson, Eswatini’s King Mswati III, and outgoing chairperson, Malawi’s President Arthur Peter Mutharika. “Incoming” is the important designation: the announcement does not describe Matekane as replacing the current Organ chair immediately. The Organ sits within SADC’s regional peace and security framework. The organisation’s peace, security and governance overview connects that work to political stability, law enforcement cooperation, human security and responses to transnational crime. The same summit approved Treasure Thembisile Maphanga as deputy executive secretary for regional integration. Her Secretariat appointment is separate from Matekane’s elected political role. One concerns programme oversight; the other places a national leader within the Organ’s political leadership structure. From Mantšonyane to private enterprise Matekane was born on 15 March 1958 in Mantšonyane, in Lesotho’s Thaba-Tseka district. He is 68 as of 22 October 2026. The Lesotho Ministry of Defence’s profile identifies him as a Mosotho businessman and politician and supplies that birth date. Continue Reading Full Article BIOGRAPHY Who Is Sam Matekane? Lesotho’s PM and His New SADC Role By Kamau Bahati Entertainment Editor Kamau Bahati Home Comment Oct 22, 2026 Oct 22, 2026 5 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Sam Matekane is Lesotho’s businessman-turned-prime minister, whose rapid entry into electoral politics brought him to office in October 2022. On 21 October 2026, the Southern African Development Community elected him incoming chairperson of its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, adding a regional security responsibility to his national leadership role. His election concerns the Organ’s leadership arrangement, rather than SADC’s overall chairpersonship. It follows a career built first in private enterprise and then through the Revolution for Prosperity party, which became the largest party in Lesotho’s parliament at its first general election. Who is Sam Matekane? Sam Matekane is Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, a businessman and politician serving as Lesotho’s prime minister since October 2022. He founded Revolution for Prosperity and previously built the Matekane Group of Companies. In October 2026, SADC elected him incoming chair of its politics, defence and security Organ. What SADC elected him to do The SADC summit announcement identifies Matekane as the incoming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The decision was taken at a virtual extraordinary summit on 21 October, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Matekane completes the Organ Troika alongside its current chairperson, Eswatini’s King Mswati III, and outgoing chairperson, Malawi’s President Arthur Peter Mutharika. “Incoming” is the important designation: the announcement does not describe Matekane as replacing the current Organ chair immediately. The Organ sits within SADC’s regional peace and security framework. The organisation’s peace, security and governance overview connects that work to political stability, law enforcement cooperation, human security and responses to transnational crime. The same summit approved Treasure Thembisile Maphanga as deputy executive secretary for regional integration. Her Secretariat appointment is separate from Matekane’s elected political role. One concerns programme oversight; the other places a national leader within the Organ’s political leadership structure. ADVERTISEMENT From Mantšonyane to private enterprise Matekane was born on 15 March 1958 in Mantšonyane, in Lesotho’s Thaba-Tseka district. He is 68 as of 22 October 2026. The Lesotho Ministry of Defence’s profile identifies him as a Mosotho businessman and politician and supplies that birth date. His route to prominence was business rather than a long sequence of elected offices. According to his RFP party biography , he established Matekane Transport and Plant Hire in 1986, the enterprise from which the Matekane Group of Companies developed. Its activities expanded into sectors including construction-related services, mining, aviation and property development. The party also records the launch of the Sam Matekane Foundation in 2020 and its community and pandemic-related assistance. These activities formed part of his public identity before he sought national office. They help explain the business-and-philanthropy background from which he entered politics, while remaining distinct from an assessment of his government’s performance. How a new party reached government Matekane founded Revolution for Prosperity in March 2022. The party contested the general election on 7 October that year, only months after its formation. The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s election record records RFP winning 56 of the National Assembly’s 120 seats. That made it the largest party, but left it short of an outright majority. It reached a coalition agreement with the Alliance of Democrats and the Movement for Economic Change. ADVERTISEMENT The result was a substantial breakthrough for a new political organisation. It also meant Matekane’s path to power depended onparliamentary cooperation. Winning the largest number of seats and being able to form a government were connected but separate steps. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ inauguration account confirms that he was sworn in as Lesotho’s tenth prime minister at Setsoto Stadium on 28 October 2022, succeeding Moeketsi Majoro. The responsibilities behind the business reputation At his inauguration, Matekane discussed attracting investment, the country’s dependence on Southern African Customs Union revenue and the need to combat corruption. Those were statements of government priorities, rather than evidence that the problems had been resolved. His commercial success also brought questions about the relationship between private enterprise and public office. A contemporary Mail & Guardian and Newsday Lesotho profile examined his construction, mining and aviation interests. It reported his response that he had no government contracts and rejected the suggestion of a conflict of interest. The distinction remains useful when reading his biography: business experience explains his background, while his political record must be judged through public decisions and their results. His new SADC designation adds another institutional responsibility rather than replacing that national accountability. Key dates in Matekane’s public career Family information Sam Matekane FAQs What is Sam Matekane’s full name? SADC identifies him as Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane. He is widely known as Sam Matekane. Trending Now Popular Today Biography Who Is Sam Matekane? Lesotho’s PM and His New SADC Role . ADVERTISEMENT How old is Sam Matekane? Born on 15 March 1958, he is 68 as of 22 October 2026. Which country does he lead? He is prime minister of Lesotho. He entered office in October 2022. What political party did he establish? He founded Revolution for Prosperity, commonly abbreviated RFP, in March 2022. What was his career before politics? He built a business career associated with the Matekane Group of Companies, spanning transport-related activities and sectors including mining, aviation and property. Has he become SADC’s overall chairperson? No. The 21 October announcement elects him incoming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, a distinct position within SADC. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Who Is Sam Matekane? Lesotho’s PM and His New SADC Role His business background, 2022 election breakthrough and incoming SADC security role explained. . Tags Lesotho Lesotho

Listen to Kayamba Africa songs, MP3 downloads, lyrics, and latest a cappella hits from the Kenyan music artist. Kayamba Africa Kenyan Vocal Group KEN A cappella, neo-traditional Kenyan music No major award wins could be verified for this profile. Kayamba Africa s' Top Xtrafrica Songs