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James Earl Jones, voice of Mufasa in ‘Lion King,’ dies at 93

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James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old.

From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic “The Lion King,” Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the other He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement.

In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier.
All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all.

“Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I’d try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter,” Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010.

Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in “Star Wars” as Darth Vader.

Jones did not physically portray the character — David Prowse wore Vader’s black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side.

“I am your father,” Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in “The Empire Strikes Back” — a twist etched in cinema history.

“He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived,” “Star Wars” creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York.

▪︎AFP

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2026 BET awards: Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, Kendrick Lamar takes home biggest awards

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• Teyana Taylor

American actress and singer Teyana Taylor and hip-hop duo Clipse emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, taking home three awards each during the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The event, hosted by comedian Druski and broadcast live on BET, also saw Kendrick Lamar and Kehlani secure two awards apiece, according to a post on Billboard.

Taylor capped off a remarkable year by winning Best Actress, Video Director of the Year and the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award.

She was also honoured with the prestigious Icon of the Year award, one of three honorary recognitions presented during the ceremony.

Clipse dominated the music categories, winning Album of the Year for Let God Sort ‘Em Out, Best Group and Best Collaboration for “Chains & Whips,” their hit collaboration with Kendrick.

Lamar added to his impressive BET Awards record by winning Best Male Hip Hop Artist for a ninth time, further extending his lead as the most decorated artiste in the category.

Kehlani claimed her first Best Female R&B/Pop Artist award, ending SZA’s three-year reign in the category, and also won Video of the Year for her hit song “Folded.

British singer Olivia Dean, who earlier won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, replicated the feat at the BET Awards, becoming only the fifth artiste to win the category at both ceremonies.

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Davido to release new single ‘I Know Who I Be’ June 26

Before the latest announcement, Davido’s last solo release was Be There Still, which dropped in March 2025.

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Nigerian singer Davido has announced the release of a new song titled ‘I Know Who I Be’, marking his return with fresh music after a period of limited solo releases.

The track, which features Jazzwrld and GL_Ceejay, is scheduled to be released on June 26.

Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, is one of Africa’s most celebrated music stars.

He rose to fame in 2012 with the hit song Dami Duro and later founded DMW, a record label that has produced several successful artistes.

The singer made the announcement on his X page on Monday, telling fans that “the journey to the throne begins” as he unveiled plans for the forthcoming release.

He further disclosed that “my next single I Know Who I Be releases June 26th,” while sharing promotional photographs for the project.

The announcement has generated excitement among fans, particularly because the singer had revealed in May that he would be taking a temporary break from making music.

Before the latest announcement, Davido’s last solo release was Be There Still, which dropped in March 2025. He most recently appeared as a featured artiste on TxC’s track Nakupenda.

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Michelle hosts Tems at new Obama presidential centre

Michelle Obama also told the participants that the Centre was created as a space for young people to explore their talents and find their voices, adding that she and former President Barack Obama envisioned it as a long-term creative hub.

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Image : Tems with former United States President, First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. Photo credit: Tems

Grammy-winning Afrobeats star Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has met with former United States First Lady Michelle Obama at the newly opened Media Suite of the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago, where both figures engaged young aspiring artists in a conversation on confidence, creativity and self-expression.

The meeting, which was shared in a video posted by Michelle Obama on X on Monday, formed part of activities at the Obama Presidential Centre’s creative hub in Jackson Park.

The Centre, which opened just days earlier during its June 18–21, 2026 launch events, includes a Media Suite designed to give young people access to tools for music production, podcasting and other creative training.

In her post accompanying the video, Michelle Obama wrote: “Tems and I met with some aspiring artists at the Obama Presidential Centre’s new Media Suite! Barack and I hope this Media Suite will become a place where young people can find their voice, learn about music, and make beautiful art.

”Inside the session, Tems expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with the participants, while also highlighting the importance of authenticity in building confidence as an artist.

“I got a chance to meet these beautiful, talented girls, and I’m so grateful to the Obama Centre and to Michelle Obama for inviting me,” she said.

Michelle Obama also told the participants that the Centre was created as a space for young people to explore their talents and find their voices, adding that she and former President Barack Obama envisioned it as a long-term creative hub.

In a response to a student’s question about stage confidence, Michelle Obama emphasised consistency and practice, noting that self-assurance is developed over time through experience.

Tems, in her own contribution, encouraged the young artists to embrace individuality and creative honesty. She said:“You have to do things that bring more of you out, like that, make you more authentic. That helps with confidence…. I really believe in what these guys are doing here, which is also why I started the Leading Vibe initiative, who supports young women in music in every way

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