CNN is reporting legendary Sudanese actress Asia Abdel-Majid was killed in crossfire during fighting in the capital Khartoum on Wednesday.
Abdel-Majid is considered a pioneer of theater in Sudan and the country’s first professional stage actress, establishing a kindergarten in Bahri and becoming a teacher when she retired.
The 80-year-old was killed after shells hit her home in Bahri, north of the capital, in fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army. Abdel-Majid was buried on the grounds of the school she founded because it is too dangerous to bury her in the cemetery.
“It is unclear if it was the RSF or the army that fired the shot that killed Abdel-Majid.
Failed negotiations between Sudanese army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan RSF and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo over a disputed power-sharing arrangement exploded into violence in mid-April, sparking a mass exodus of refugees from the country and resulting in the deaths of at least 528 people.
Previous ceasefires and promises of peace talks between both leaders have failed to curb the ongoing conflict with eyewitness accounts of fighting in Khartoum reported on Thursday, despite a seven-day truce announced just days earlier.”
Many sudanese have fled to Egypt in the wake of the violence. Rest in power to a trailblazer.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
The world is still mourning the loss of activist, performer and icon Harry Belafonte who died at his New York City home April 25, 2023 at age 96. Belafonte was beloved for his immense talent and willingness to use his fame and platform to address issues of social justice including civil rights, ending Apartheid and USA for Africa. A confidante of slain civil rights lion Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and UNICEF ambassador from 1987 until the time of his death, Belafonte advocated for a variety of humanitarian causes.
A consummate singer and actor, Belafonte used his talents to further these causes in a myriad of ways including helping to orchestrate the “We are the world,” an artist collaboration to raise funds for USA for Africa to help end apartheid. The son of Jamaican immigrants, a fledgling singer, Belafonte’s fame grew following his portrayal of Joe in the iconic 1954 film, Carmen Jones, co-starring Dorothy Dandridge. Dandridge became the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award in 1955. Belafonte rose to fame as a singer with the release of two albums on RCA Victor in 1956, Belafonte and Calypso, which helped popularize the style of music in the United States. His song, “The Banana Boat Song,” featuring the classic line, “Day-O” made the handsome Belafonte an international superstar.
Belafonte accomplished many things in his career that have been widely chronicled, but one of the things that makes him beloved to the global Black community is the use of his platform to bring awareness to causes that impacted our communities globally. An examples is the use of his appearance on, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” on September 19, 1968 to perform the song, “Don’t Stop the Carnival,” which is a political statement about the importance of the carnival festival, “a Creole bacchanal,” significant to the Black people of Trinidad. The performance was banned by CBS and the, “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which had been under fire for featuring anti-war artists like Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Simon & Garfunkel, was cancelled the following year.
Check out Belafonte’s banned performance here, to get a small taste of who he was and how he used his talents, access and resources to shed light on important issues impacting global Black communities:
Harry Belanfonte was 96-years-old. Married three times, Mr. Belafonte is survived by his wife Pamela and four children Shari, David, Adrian and Gina. Rest in power.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
The Harvard Crimson is reporting four Black students were the victim of a police “swatting” after a hoax gone horribly wrong. “Swatting” is the action or practice of making a prank phone call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.
According to reports, the Harvard University police received a false 911 call stating there was an armed person in the suite early Monday morning. The police responded by calling the suite and there was no answer. After the police received no response, the police arrived at 4:30 a.m. and “swatted” the suite in the dormitory. TheCrimson reports:
“‘HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano said in an interview that Harvard University Police were dispatched to the building after a report ‘threatening violence against occupants.’ The officers searched the Leverett House suite with ‘negative results for an individual with a firearm or any persons acting in a suspicious manner,’ Catalano said.
At the time of the raid, seniors Jarah K. Cotton ’23, Jazmin N. Dunlap ’23, David G. Madzivanyika ’23, and Alexandra C. René ’23 were in the suite, according to Cotton, who said she was woken around 4 a.m. by the sound of banging and commands to ‘open up.'”
The police officers entered the suite with riot gear and rifles. The incident has left affected students frightened and scared with many questions. The HUPD is coordinating with the FBI to figure out from where the call originated. Making a false report of a serious crime is a criminal offense, and can result in charges of making a false report, false alarm, and other related crimes.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
AfroPop is a series that is unapologetically Black and season 15 is now streaming on The World Channel. Season 15 of the series launched with the U.S. television broadcast premiere of the documentary Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, a film about a giant of dance: Tony-Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones.
The documentary explores Jones’s masterpiece about the AIDS crisis, created during the height of the health emergency that saw his dance company suffering heartbreaking losses from HIV. The film also takes audiences into the studio of the film’s co-director, dance educator Rosalynde LeBlanc, as she teaches the piece to current-day students who struggle to connect to the earlier time and the work. Watch the trailer here.
Other films in the series spotlight global music icon and activist Angélique Kidjo (April 10), talented octogenarian artist Bill Taylor (April 17), celebrated traditional dancer Atanásio Nyusi (April 24) and jazz legend Thelonious Monk (May 1). These films are available now to stream on the PBS App, various streaming platforms like Apple TV and Roku and the WorldChannel.org.
AfroPop was created because Black directors had nowhere for their work to go. Today, the need for those stories and information about the myriad contributions of Black people to America – and the world is more urgent than ever.
The film premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET on public television’s WORLD Channel and streams on the YouTube channels of WORLD and BPM.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
The abductees traveled to Matamoros which is under a Stage 4 warning level by the U.S. government.
The Associated Press is reporting two U.S. citizens missing since their violent abduction last week in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros have been found dead and two others are alive, the state’s governor said Tuesday.
The report is as follows:
“The FBI had reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who had been kidnapped Friday. A relative of one of them said Monday that they had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a Matamoros doctor.
Shortly after entering Mexico Friday they were caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.
Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.”
Although it is not being widely reported, the abductees are believed to be African American.
Filmmaker and Advertising Executive Deborah Riley Draper of Coffee Bluff Pictures wins multiple awards at 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.
Coffee Bluff Pictures,won multiple honors at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards. They won the Best Human & Civil Rights Film, Video, Television or Show category forTwenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® (Gold winner) and The Legacy of Black Wall Street (Silver winner). This category highlights scripted, episodic or individual video content, series or films that aim to raise awareness for Human & Civil Rights Causes.
In the category Health Partnership or Collaboration, Tuskegee Legacy Stories won the Silver award in the for-profit division, while the Tuskegee Legacy Stories & Covid Vaccine Education series won the Gold award in the nonprofit division with the Ad Council. This category highlights a partnership or collaboration between two or more organizations, individuals or entities to raise awareness for a Health cause. Rounding out the wins in the nonprofit division with another Gold award is the Ad Council’s Perspectives from Rural America, COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative. TheTuskegee Legacy Stories and Perspectives from Rural America series were both multi-organization collaborations for the Ad Council’s Covid-19 Vaccine Education Initiative.
Anthem Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
Coffee Bluff Pictures is an Atlanta-based creative company founded by advertising agency executive and filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper to develop and share film, TV, and content as art that inspires engagement and outreach with the audiences and the greater community.
Photo: Facebook/Coffee Bluff Pictures
Leading the efforts in creating all the winning projects, filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper says “Gratitude is so important to show, demonstrate and express, and on behalf of the team at Coffee Bluff Pictures, I’d like to thank all of our collaborators, crew members, partners and all those who contributed to the success of these award-winning projects.“ Click here for full details on all the winning projects.
“Since launching this platform in June of 2021, we have seen that social change has emerged as a dominant force in mainstream culture,” said Anthem Awards Managing Director Jessica Lauretti. “The sheer number, breadth and overall quality of the entries shared with us in the 2nd Annual Awards is a testament to the strength of this growing movement and demonstrates an enduring commitment to the work that is both humbling and inspiring to see. From the war in Ukraine, to protests in Iran and the ongoing battle for equality here at home in the States, the call for change not only perseveres but is a growing global chorus.”
Winners for the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the Winners Celebration on February 27, 2023 in NYC. Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders and their hallmark speeches at www.anthemawards.com. The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The 2nd Annual competition received nearly 2,000 entries from 43 countries worldwide.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Ghanaian soccer star Christian Atsu, 31, died in the 2023 Turkey earthquake that has claimed 47,000 lives.
The world is still reeling over those lost in the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria Feb. 6. The death toll, which is currently at 47,000, continues to rise and bodies are still being discovered in the rubble weeks after the devastating earthquake hit.
The body of Ghanaian soccer star Christian Atsu was discovered in the rubble Feb. 19, nearly two weeks following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Atsu, 31, went missing after the historic earthquake hit Turkey and Syria and his apartment building was reduced to rubble. His body was discovered by officials and his brother and sister, who had been searching for the soccer star, nearly two weeks following the earthquake.
According to Ghanaweb.com, government officials have declared Atsu will receive a state burial. Tributes have poured in with many expressing their condolences to the footballer’s family and loved ones. Atsu had played in the Saudi Pro League for Al Read FC and several English clubs, including Chelsea, Everton,Bournemouth and Newcastle before moving to Hatayspor last year.
A devout Christian, Atsu grew up in Ada Foha (Greater Accra) in extreme poverty as one of 10 siblings. He attended the West African Soccer Academy in Sogakope and at age 17, was called up by Porto. After being loaned out, Atsu returned to Porto and won his first national championship with them in 2012-2013. A winger, Atsu went on to have a successful soccer career, often dominating the midfielder and left back positions.
Soccer player Christian Atsu in his last soccer game, the day before he perished in the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. (Photo: Twitter/ChristianAtsu
Atsu will reportedly have a state burial March 4 in Accra. In 2013, Atsu played for Ghana’s African Cup team. In 2014, he was selected for FIFA’s 2014 World Cup team.
Atsu is survived by his wife, German author Marie-Claire Rupio, two sons and a daughter. He was 31.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor in chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire, celebrating a decade of excellence. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
The SCAD TVfest kicked off this week celebrating its 11th year with exciting programming and screenings. Sarah Michelle Gellar accepted the Icon Award following the screening of Wolf Pack and Sterlin Harjo accepted the Variety Showrunner Award following the screening of Reservation Dogs.
Additional award winners include Actor Wes Bentley, who currently stars as Jamie Dutton on the hit Paramount Network series, “Yellowstone” opposite Kevin Costner. Bentley will receive the Virtuoso Award and Craig Robinson, star of NBC Peacock’s hit show, “Killing It,” will receive the Spotlight Award.
SCAD TVfest spotlights the best in design, creativity, and innovation in television and digital media. Viewers explore the best work and latest trends in broadcast, streaming, cable, web, social media, and advertising, and connect with the top industry insiders working on camera and behind the scenes.
The 2023 festival schedule includes gala premiere screenings, spotlights, panel discussions, Q&A events, and other original content. The 2023 festival schedule includes gala premiere screenings, spotlights, panel discussions, Q&A events, masterclasses with SCAD students, and other original content.
This year’s event is sold out and welcome’s a return to in-person events at the celebrated television festival.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @TheBurtonWire.
Abbott Elementary Cast at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards. Photo: Twitter/QuintaBrunson
There was a lot riding on the 2023 Golden Globe Awards last night. The Golden Globes telecast was cancelled last year by NBC after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association(HFPA) was exposed for not having any Black members. HFPA was also under fire because it was discovered the bulk of the membership did not work full-time for notable international publications and members accepted gifts from studios and PR firms to campaign for nominations. Iconic actor Tom Cruise returned his award due to the fallout from the exposé brought to light by the Los Angeles Times in February 2021. With one year left in their NBC contract, the Golden Globes set out to correct the wrongs of the past by expanding and diversifying membership invitations and banning campaigning for nominations.
The 2023 Golden Globe awards were hosted by comedian Jerrod Carmichael and produced by former BET Head of Programming Stephen Hill. The HFPA returned for its 80th year of celebrating outstanding achievement in motion pictures and television with Carmichael scorching them with his brutal honesty about why he was named host. He opened the show explaining his struggle over whether to accept the invitation to serve as host.
“’l’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here ’cause I’m Black,” he said. “This was the first Golden Globes Ceremony since the Hollywood Foreign Press Association came under fire in 2020 for controversies including a lack of diversity and unethical financial practices. I’ll catch everyone in the room up,” Carmichael added. “The Golden Globe Awards did not air last year. I won’t say they were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single Black member until George Floyd died, so do with that information what you will,” said the Emmy award-winner to a stunned audience.
Carmichael continued to prod the HFPA throughout the ceremony as Black creatives received top nominations and some awards. Rihanna was nominated for Best Song for “Lift Me Up,” (Black Panther II: Wakanda Forever); Jeremy Pope was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture (The Inspection); Angela Bassett was nominated for and won Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Black Panther II: Wakanda Forever); Viola Davis was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture (The Woman King); Zendaya was nominated and won Best Actress in a Drama TV Series (Euphoria); Niecy Nash was nominated for Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/Anthology or Motion Picture Made for TV.
Abbott Elementary was the darling of the television awards. Quinta Brunson was nominated for and won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series for Abbott Elementary which also won Best Musical or Comedy TV Series award. Tyler James Williams also won Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series/Musical-Comedy or Drama for Abbott Elementary.
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series/ Musical-Comedy or Drama for Abbott Elementary, although they did not win their categories. Ralph won a Primetime Emmy award in 2022 for her role as a teacher (Barbara) on the smash hit.
Eddie Murphy was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. “I’ve been in show business for 46 years, and I’ve been in the movie business for 41 years so this has been a long time in the making,” stated the iconic entertainer.
Forever the comedian, he offered advice along with a joke, “Pay your taxes, mind your business and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your mouth,” he said.
Despite the changes, the Golden Globe awards averaged 5.4 million total viewers and a 1.0 demo rating, which is lower than their pre-pandemic numbers and the lowest watched show since 1995. It is unclear whether NBC will renew their broadcast contract with the precarious organization, but it is clear Black excellence was on full display at the 2023 Golden Globes.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary November 2022. Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter or Instagram @TheBurtonWireNews.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro supporters during 2023 Brazil attack on the capital. Photo: Flickr/Creative Commons/Astro Kabir
Brazil is still reeling following the breach at the capital that took place Sunday (January 8, 2023). Supporters of far right former President Jair Bolsonaro descended on government buildings, breached them, climbed on a rooftop and broke windows. Offices in the presidential palace were also broken into and damaged as was their Supreme Federal Court.
The chaos ensued following the legal election of Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in Jan. 1. Bolsoaro and his supporters questioned the validity of the election and said the election was stolen, producing a disinformation campaign.
Brazil’s president Lula da Silva responded to the melée by authorizing federal intervention in the Federal District until the end of January. Lula da Silva has previously served two terms as president of the country. Authorities used tear gas to end the chaos. At least 300 people were arrested Sunday evening, according to Brazilian police.
There have been no immediate reports of deaths as a result of the breach.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary November 2022. Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter or Instagram @TheBurtonWireNews.
