Veteran Kannywood actress Zainab Zee Diamond has died after a prolonged illness, her family announced. Diamond died in the early hours of Monday, September 7, 2026, shortly after the Fajr prayer.
Before her death, Diamond received medical treatment for an extended period. Her family thanked those who supported her during her illness but did not identify the condition or give details about the treatment.
In its announcement, the family wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” meaning “To Allah we belong, and to Him shall we return.” The statement did not give a medical diagnosis or state a specific cause of death.
Diamond built a career in Kannywood through Hausa-language films and television productions. She also appeared in the Hausa-language series Labarina, where reports identified her with the characters Maman Bintalo and Talatuwa.
Following the announcement, actors, filmmakers and fans shared tributes across the Kannywood community. Fans offered Islamic prayers for Diamond and condolences to her family, while colleagues remembered her work in the Hausa-language film industry.
As tributes continued, audiences and fellow entertainers recalled Diamond’s career in northern Nigeria’s Hausa-language film industry. Kannywood, centred largely in Kano, produces predominantly Hausa-language films.
The family had not announced funeral arrangements when the report was filed. It said it would release further details in due course.
