Nigerian singer Augustine Miles Kelechi, widely known as Tekno, has sparked debate during a New York interview with Hot 97 FM by contesting the long-standing belief that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is the sole creator of Afrobeats.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor universally celebrated for bringing Optimus Prime to life, has passed away at his Los Angeles home at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed his passing to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, noting that he died on Wednesday. In a statement, his family shared that he departed peacefully surrounded by loved ones, encouraging fans to honor his memory through community service, compassion, and his famous personal creed to “be strong enough to be gentle”.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Born in Montreal on July 28, 1941, to American parents, Cullen graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963 before cutting his teeth on Shakespearean performances in Stratford and acting at Toronto’s Crest Theatre. Over a prolific career spanning television, film, video games, and theme parks, he voiced a diverse array of memorable characters, including the giant ape in the 1976 King Kong remake, the villainous vehicle KARR in Knight Rider, and the alien hunter in the original Predator movie.

However, Cullen left an indelible mark on animation and children’s media during the 1980s and 1990s. He originated the definitive voice of Optimus Prime in the original “Generation 1” series and The Transformers: The Movie (1986), a role he triumphantly reprised when the franchise shifted to live-action under Michael Bay in 2007, continuing through subsequent sequels up to Bumblebee (2018) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023). Beyond the Autobot leader, generations of children also knew him as the voice of Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh franchise, a role he inhabited across multiple series and films starting in the late 1980s.

Recognized for his immense contributions to the industry, Cullen earned a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2011 for Transformers: Prime and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2023. According to the Associated Press, he is survived by his four children: Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay.

Veteran Nigerian Juju musician Iyun Janet Ajilore, widely known as Saint Janet, was tearfully laid to rest at her residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following a series of funeral rites. Prior to her burial, a candlelight procession, Artists’ Night, and Christian wake took place on Tuesday at the AIT/Faaji FM compound located in Kola Alagbado, Lagos. Her final send-off on Wednesday drew family members, children, and industry colleagues, with video footage capturing deeply emotional moments as mourners gathered around her casket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Saint Janet passed away on August 1, 2026, following a brief and undisclosed illness. Shedding light on her final moments in an interview with Alore TV, three of her children—Omowunmi, Orinayo, and Fola Ayilor—noted that she showed no initial signs of sickness. Omowunmi recounted that her mother had just performed healthily at an all-night show in Sango, Ogun State, gone to the market the following day, and cooked her own meal after returning home around 6 p.m., before suddenly experiencing severe chest pain and breathing difficulties.