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Nigeria’s Nnedi recreates Black Panther’s sister, Shuri, in Marvel comic series

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Marvel has announced a new comic book series about Black Panther’s sister, Shuri, a scientific genius and princess of the mythical nation of Wakanda.

It debuts in October and will be written by author Nnedi Okorafor and artwork by Leonardo Romero.

The series follows her as she takes the reins after her brother and titular hero, T’Challa, disappears into space.

The Black Panther movie was a huge success this year and was hailed for having a largely black cast.

Shuri’s sarcasm and high-tech inventions made her one of the main new characters in the film.

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“While she [Shuri] is the most at home in her lab, working to keep her country at the forefront of science and technology, Wakanda is missing its leader,” Marvel wrote in a press statement about the new series.

“Without T’Challa around, Shuri will have to decide if she will forego her own passions in order to stand up for her nation.”

British actress Letitia Wright (right) played the Black Panther’s younger sister.
Ms Okorafor, who writes African-based science fiction and fantasy novels, is no stranger to the Marvel Universe: she has previously contributed to the bi-weekly series, Black Panther: Long Live the King.

The American author, who has Nigerian parents, has won a number of international awards, including a Hugo Award for her novella, Binti, and the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature.

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US rappers, Meek Mill, Lil Durk pay tribute to late Nigerian Afropop star, MohBad

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American rappers, Meek Mill and Lil Durk have joined the hordes of celebrities worldwide who have paid tributes to late Nigerian Afropop music star, MohBad who died in mysterious circumstances on September 12.

The 27-year-old’s death, which has generated controversies in the Nigerian musis scene with lots of questions asked, just as processions have been held by youths and entertainers in several parts of the country.

First to pen his tribute on X was Lil Durk who wrote: “RIP MOHBAD aka Imole” with the tweet garnering more than 10 million views and retweets in less than over 24 hours.

Next to pay his tribute was Meek Mill who wrote:

“I watched his whole story on tik tok!!!! They riding for him in Nigeria. I love that!”

The death of MohBad, who was renowned for his baritone voice with hit songs like “Peace”, “Ask About M” and “Pariwo” has also sparked widespread outrage on social media with a trending hashtag, #JusticeforMohBas, as fans demand an investigation into his death which led to the police exhuming his body for an autopsy.

His fans are also calling for an investigation into his record label, Marlin Records, owned by popular musician, Naira Marley.

MohBad had left the label in 2022 with allegations that he was subjected to threats and intimidation by Naira Marley and other members of the label.

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After 140-year battle, UK returns Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu’s lock of hair

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After a legal tussle that lasted 140 years for the return of a lock of hair from a young Ethiopian prince, Alemayehu, who was in captivity in Britain, the UK government has finally handed over the hair to representatives from his home country.

According to history, Prince Alemayehu was taken away by British soldiers in 1868 after invading the fortress of his father, Emperor Tewodros II, who then killed himself.

The prince was taken to London aged just seven, where his status as an orphan elicited the sympathy of Queen Victoria who agreed to support him financially and put him under the guardianship of Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia.

But barely 10 years later, the Crown Prince died at the age of 18 in 1879 after an unhappy upbringing in Britain and was buried at Windsor Castle near London.

Requests to have his body returned to his home country for a proper burial were repeatedly turned down, a situation which led to the long battle.

In rejecting the requests, Buckingham Palace reasoned that exhuming the prince’s remains would disturb the remains of others buried in the catacombs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

However, on Thursday, the issue was settled after the UK government handed over the lock of hair to Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the UK, Teferi Melesse, at a ceremony held in London.

While taking possession of the lock of hair which came with a number of other artefacts that had been looted from Emperor Tewodros’s Maqdala fortress, Melesse welcomed their return, saying that they will go back to their rightful place where they can continue to inspire and educate generations to come.

Melesse however, said Ethiopia would continue to press the UK to return more items seized from the fortress.

One of the prince’s descendants, Fasil Minas, also expressed hope that the handing over of the prince’s hair could pave the way for his body to go back to Ethiopia.

The handing over of the hair was facilitated by the Scheherazade Foundation, which had originally been in the possession of Captain Speedy.

Leonie Turner, a descendant of Speedy who handed over the hair in London, told journalists that she had discovered the artefact among her family heirlooms.

“I felt Prince Alemayehu’s hair was a long way from home,” she said quoted.

A member of Ethiopia’s Heritages Restitution National Committee, Alula Pankhurst said he welcomed the return of the hair but said this should just be the start.

“The restitution of Ethiopian artefacts looted by the1868 British expedition to Magdala is important for restorative justice and an excellent way to build better relations and collaborations between British and Ethiopian institutions,” he said.

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