CICELY TYSON ( 1924 - 2021 )
Cicely Tyson ’ s illustrious career that spanned for over six decades was marked with several trailblazing moments . She was the first African American to be in a television drama when she was featured in the series East Side / West Side in 1963 . She was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 1972 for ‘ Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama ’ for her role in Sounder . 45 years later was honored with an honorary golden statuette for her body of work . She was the first black woman to wear her natural hair on television . She became a global ambassador for American style and paved the way for natural hair onscreen in years to come . Her legacy of representative powerful black women in film and theatre is her star power .
CHADWICK BOSEMAN ( 1976 - 2020 )
Chadwick Boseman ’ s passing came as a shock to the world , but even in death , he lived up to his superhero persona . The actor chose to change the narrative of black identity by his role choices . Boseman played many influential Black figures throughout his career . One of them was Jackie Robinson in the 2013 film “ 42 .” Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball . His prolific role was as the sovereign T ' Challa of the fictional nation of Wakanda in the blockbuster ‘ Black Panther ’. Hi role and the film offered black communities both in the diaspora and around the world , a superhero who looked like them . It was his philanthropic work that made him a real life hero . His body of work during his short life is an example of black excellence , whilst his work in the community will forever be etched in history . ‘ Long Live the King .’
TONY ALLEN ( 1940 – 2020 )
We cannot speak of ‘ Afrobeat ’ without mentioning Tony Allen . A musician par excellence , the Nigerian drummer and Fela Kuti ’' s travelling soulmate paved the way for the African sound on the global mainstream . Together with Fela , Tony played on some 30 albums including classics such as “ Alagbon Close ”, “ Zombie ”, “ Shakara ”, “ Confusion ” and “ Upside Down ”. Allen influenced drummers all over the world with his polyrhythmic sound . This recognizable signature sound has been instrumental in not only African music , but on the global scene . To Allen , ' Afrobeat ' was more than just a sound , but a voice of the times . He was committed to the pan African vision , one that would see him work on a collaborative album “ Rejoice ” with the late South African jazz legend , Hugh Masekela .
WE ALSO REMEMBER THESE KINGS , QUEENS & GAMECHANGERS :
Rocky Johnson - 15th January 2020 Kirk Douglas - 5th February 2020 Joseph Shabalala - 11th February 2020 Nikita Pearl Waligwa - 15th February 2020 Pop Smoke - 19th February 2020 Aurlus Mabélé - 19th March 2020
Kenny Rogers - 20th March 2020 Manu Dibango - 24th March 2020 Bill Withers - 30th March 2020 Vinolia Mashego- 6th April 2020 Andre Harell - 7th May 2020 Little Richard - 9th May 2020
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