Obituary
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Fela Kuti Drummer and 'Father of Afrobeat' Tony Allen Dead at 79
Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, lovingly known as the “Father of Afrobeat” died on Thursday evening at the age of 79, Rolling Stone confirms. Allen died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm at Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris. “He was in great shape,” Allen’s manager Eric Trosser told France 24. “It was quite sudden.” Rolling…
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Philadelphia Rapper and Model Chynna Rogers, Dead at 25
Model turned rapper Chynna Rogers, known as Chynna, died Wednesday at the age of 25. “Chynna was deeply loved and will be sorely missed,” her family wrote in a statement obtained by Pitchfork. The cause of death has not been confirmed. Pitchfork further reports: Chynna Rogers began her career as a model, signing with Ford…
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Earl G. Graves Sr., Black Enterprise Founder, Dies at 85
The founder and publisher of Black Enterprise, Earl Gilbert Graves Sr., was an internationally recognized authority on black-owned businesses, a guru for African-American entrepreneurs and a tireless advocate for black business and consumer power. Sadly, Graves died Monday night at the age of 85 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, according to his son, current…
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Ain't No Sunshine: Bill Withers Dead at 81
This one hurts. Bill Withers, whose soul-stirring catalog provided the soundtrack to generations of black households, has died from heart complications. He was 81. In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed their grief at his loss. “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart-driven…
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French-Cameroonian Jazz Legend Manu Dibango Dies at 86 From COVID-19 Complications
Jazz legend Manu Dibango has died at the age of 86. According to BBC, the French-Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphonist died due to complications stemming from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus strain. “It is with deep sadness that we announce [to] you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove, who passed away…
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A Eulogy for 'But What About Harvey Weinstein, Tho?'
We regret to inform you that “But What About Harvey Weinstein, Tho?”—the bizarre and increasingly popular defense of R. Kelly, Russell Simmons, Bill Cosby and any other black man some (idiots) feel has been unfairly persecuted and scapegoated by the media, feminists, black women, SANS (simp-ass niggas), Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and the Illuminati—has died…
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Katherine G. Johnson, the Groundbreaking NASA Mathematician Featured in Hidden Figures, Has Died at 101
Katherine G. Johnson, the NASA mathematician who played a key role in helping America win the space race and whose story was featured in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, died Monday. She was 101 years old. From the moment she learned how to count, Johnson fell in love with numbers. “I counted everything. I counted…
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Boyz N the Hood, 90210 Actress Esther Scott Dead at 66 After Suffering Heart Attack
Esther Scott, most known for her roles in Boyz n the Hood and Beverly Hills 90210, has died at the age of 66. Scott’s passing, on Friday, Feb. 14, was first reported by TMZ. The site adds: A member of Esther’s family tells TMZ … Esther suffered an apparent heart attack last Tuesday at her…
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Ja'Net DuBois Has Died At 74
Unfortunately, we have to start the evening with some sad news. TMZ reports that actress Ja’net DuBois has died at age 74. The actress was best known for her role as Willona Woods on Good Times. Her family reports that she passed in her sleep. Her death was unexpected as she hadn’t been suffering any…
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Forever Mamba: The Life and Legacy of Kobe Bean Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers great and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was among nine killed in a deadly helicopter crash in California on Sunday. The smooth shooting guard and perennial NBA All-Star, who was one of the league’s most prolific scorers, was with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, when the copter crashed near Calabasas. He was 41.…