Veteran Kannywood actress, Wasila Isma’il, has died at the age of 46 after a prolonged illness.

Her ex-husband, Al-Amin Chiroma, confirmed the development in a social media post on Sunday.

He said the actress died at the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hospital in Kaduna.

The late actress is survived by her children.

Wasila was one of the prominent figures in the Kannywood film industry and was widely known for her roles in several Hausa movies.

She began her acting career in 1998 with the film “Jinin Masoya” but rose to fame in 1999 after starring in “Wasila,” directed by Yakubu Lere alongside popular actor Ali Nuhu.

Born in Kaduna, she became a household name following the success of the movie.

In an earlier interview, the actress explained that the movie was initially titled “Jamila” before she requested that it be changed to “Wasila.”

“I didn’t like the name Jamila because I feared it might tarnish my name, so I asked for it to be changed, and the director agreed,” she had said.

Following news of her death, fans and colleagues took to social media to mourn her, describing her as a talented actress whose contributions to the Hausa film industry will be remembered.