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Nigerian Afrobeats star, Asake pays tribute to women who died during London concert

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Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Asake has paid a passionate tribute to the two women who died in a stampede outside the O2 Academy Arena in Brixton, London during his concert last December.

Asake, who marked his return to the UK stage for the first time since the unfortunate incident, honoured the lives of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson in a three-minute tribute video on Sunday.

The victims, Rebecca, aged 33, and security guard, Gaby, aged 23, met their untimely demise during the crowd commotion that marred Asake’s inaugural UK show on December 15, 2022.

The heartfelt tribute, which was performed by Nigerian-British poet, Aina More, paid homage to Rebecca and Gaby and ended with a plea to the public for any information related to the incident to be shared with the authorities.

More’s powerful verses, which were accompanied by soft piano melodies, resonated with emotion as they interwove with news segments chronicling the tragic event and captured the somber mood of the moment.

“Some came out that night and ain’t returned, we need to hold this moment,” the poem reflected on the tragedy, with the verses affirming, “Up at 02:30 thinking Gaby Hutchinson could be me,” a sentiment shared by many in the audience.

“Rest well and be free, rest in peace Rebecca, our sister,” More’s heartfelt words rang out.

During the tribute performance, dancers adorned in white emerged onstage, carrying bouquets of white flowers with the crowd responding with heartfelt cheers when the names of the victims were mentioned, as well as at the culmination of the tribute.

Culture

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

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Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

The police had announced the six arrests late Wednesday and said they were still looking for two more suspects.

Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, said in a statement that during the break-in which occurred on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth, the only part of the former leader that remained after his assassination, was broken by the vandals.

“We assure that the relic is secure and it is protected,” the minister said, without offering more information.

The return of Lumumba’s tooth from former colonizer Belgium in 2022 had been celebrated around Congo, with the tooth taken around the vast country so people could pay their respects.

Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end colonial rule in the DRC and went on to become the country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was assassinated within a year in 1961.

His body was dismembered and dissolved with acid in an apparent effort to keep any grave from becoming a pilgrimage site.

For many in Congo, Lumumba is a symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved after its independence but instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.

A military coup toppled Lumumba, who was arrested, jailed and later killed. His assassination, blamed on separatists, cleared the way for the rise of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country he later renamed Zaire for decades with support from Western powers until his death in 1997.

His one remaining tooth was kept by the Belgian police commissioner who oversaw the destruction of his body.

The tooth was returned to Congo after the visit of Belgium’s King Philippe, who expressed regrets for his nation’s abuses in Congo when it was a Belgian colony.

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Miss SA opens up on why she withdrew from Miss Universe pageant

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Reigning Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, has opened up on the reasons behind her withdrawal from the Miss Universe pageant which was held in Mexico, where Nigeria’s Chidinma Adetshina was the first runner-up.

While narrating her experience in a video she shared on social media on Wednesday, le Roux said her body was taking so much physical strain.

“Hello everyone, I’m back in South Africa and wanted to reach out to you all. Thank you so much for all of your kind wishes, your support and prayers,” she said in the video.

“I wanted to be transparent with you and share my story. A lot of you would’ve seen the video that I made about vertigo, while I was in Mexico at Miss Universe.

“Vertigo is a condition where it feels like you are dizzy and there’s a sense of the world spinning around you. It’s very intense and can cause major issues with your imbalance.

“Mentally I was very strong, I was ready, but physically, my body was taking strain. I had to even seek medical help in Mexico City. And even after the medical help, my condition still wasn’t improving.”

She added that during the preliminary rounds of Miss Universe, she had continued to push herself but her vertigo intensified and it became unmanageable.

She stated that while she was waiting backstage, she fell repeatedly and couldn’t stand up without support and was not in a position to safely walk on stage.

“It was not easy. As I was not doing it just for myself but for all of you in South Africa,” she said.

“I will continue to serve as your Miss South Africa, to support and uplift those who come after me. With my unbreakable spirit and an exciting year ahead, I will keep fighting for myself and for everyone with dreams and passions. I am so proud to still be your Miss South Africa,” she added.

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