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Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
From Harris Yulin To Arthur Hamilton: 7 Celebrities Who Passed Away Recently
As we approach the middle of the year, it's a time to reflect on the lives and legacies of the celebrities we've lost in recent months. From iconic musicians to television personalities, each one left a unique mark on the world through their talent, passion, and presence. Their passing is a reminder of how deeply connected we can feel to those who inspire us from afar. This list acknowledges the notable figures we've lost in the last month. While they are no longer with us, their contributions and influence continue to shape culture and leave a lasting impact. It serves as a tribute to their legacies and a respectful farewell. David Hekili Kenui Bell The 'Big Hawaiian Dude' of 'Lilo & Stitch' passed away on 12th June (Thursday). David Hekili Kenui Bell was a beloved Hawaiian actor, most notable for his role in the recent live-action film, 'Lilo & Stitch'. In many other characters he portrayed, he almost always reflected his heritage, blending Pidgin, Indigenous Hawaiian language, and English, to help preserve local culture in mainstream media. He was described as a sweet, generous and brilliant person, often calling him an embodiment of what 'Aloha' is. He was deeply cherished in his community, greeted travellers daily through his familiar airport announcements, and proudly represented Hawaiian culture on a global platform. His warmth, modesty, and authentic aloha spirit will continue to have a memorable impact on everyone he encounters. Harris Yulin The acting industry is in shock with the news of esteemed American actor Harris Yulin's passing on 10th June (Tuesday). He's known for his roles in 'Ghostbusters II', 'Scarface', 'Training Day' and many more. He was a dedicated performer who was said to be immensely committed to his craft. He brought depth and complexity to the characters he played, mainly portraying morally grey roles with subtle intensity. Harris was said to be a gracious and warm person who valued the process and value of work rather than the fame that it gives. The 87-year-old's legacy will forever live on through his iconic roles and his family. They plan to have a memorial on a later date. Kim Woodburn Kim Woodburn, the co-host of the nostalgic British show, 'How Clean Is Your House?', passed away on the 16th June (Monday) at the age of 83 years old. She had been suffering from an illness for months leading up to her passing, cancelling the majority of her work commitments to be able to start her recovery process. Beyond her cleaning expertise, Woodburn appeared on various reality TV programs, including 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!' (2009), where she finished as runner-up Kim's passing was confirmed by her manager. Furthermore, it has been requested by her family that details on her passing remain private. Kim will forever be remembered as a warm and outspoken person who made many fans' lives better with her humour. Anne Burrell Food Network fans mourn the loss of 'Worst Cooks in America' host Anne Burrell. The chef passed away on the 17th June (Tuesday), at the age of 55 years old. She was mostly recognised by her nurturing nature and infectious enthusiasm on her show, often referring to herself as 'professional pleasure provider,' finding joy in making people smile through food. Beyond her cooking career, she was a frequent contributor to charitable causes, serving on the Garden of Dreams Foundation Advisory Board. She aimed to support children facing adversity. She will continue to be remembered through every meal cooked with her books, and through her fans and colleagues alike. Arthur Hamilton 'Cry Me a River' Arthur Hamilton passed away on the 20th May (Tuesday), after living a long life of 98 years. Best known for his contribution to songs in the film 'Pete's Kelly's Blues' (1955), such as 'Sing a Rainbow' and 'He Needs Me'. Originally, his hit song 'Cry Me a River' was made for the film to be sung by Ella Fitzgerald but it ended up being released by Julie London in 1995, which became #9 on Billboard and #22 in the UK. The song ended up being placed in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001, solidifying his legacy in the music industry. His kind-hearted and devoted personality will forever live on in his pieces, friends and fans. Lim Pik-Sen (林碧笙) The actress for 'Chung Su-Lee' in 'Mind Your Language' has passed away on the 9th June at the age of 81 years old. The Malaysian-British actor began her acting career when she was 16 years old. Since then, she has been recognised as one of the most familiar East Asian faces on British television. She's widely known for her roles in 'Doctor Who', 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' and her most notable voice acting role as the narrator in 'Dark Souls'. Fans and friends have paid tribute to the actress, highlighting her joyous and witty personality. She will continue to be remembered through the British Film Institute as 'the most familiar Chinese actor on British television screens in the 1970s and 80s' and her enduring legacy across television, film, and gaming. Tong Gai (Tang Chia, 唐佳) Veteran martial artist Tong Gai (唐佳) was pronounced dead on the 23rd June 2025 (Monday) at the age of 88. At first, reports described an elderly man falling from a building, which was later confirmed to be the choreographer. Although he had allegedly been battling depression before his passing, police have found no evidence of foul play or other causes. He gained widespread recognition for his roles in iconic kung fu films such as 'Shaolin Prince and One Armed Swordsman'. Furthermore, he was married to former Hong Kong actress Suet Nay (雪妮). Ultimately, he will always be remembered as a gifted and dedicated individual who was deeply committed to both his craft and his family. Sources: People (1)(2)(3), International The News, Yahoo, The Star Zaima Humaira contributed to this article What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Detty December started as a Nigerian cultural moment. Now it's spreading across the continent
Every December in Nigeria and Ghana a giant party takes place, unfolding in a whirlwind of concerts, festivals, weddings, art shows, dress-ups, meet-ups and travel. Locals and diaspora west Africans returning from overseas come together to create Detty December, a festive event stretching from mid-December to the new year. Detty is a playful term for 'dirty' in the regional Pidgin language and 'Detty December' is a term commonly believed to have been coined by Afropop star Mr Eazi in 2016. It means letting loose and indulging in some fun and revelry. Major events headlined by local and international music stars punctuate Detty December. In Nigeria events range from Flytime Fest in Lagos to Carnival Calabar, which showcases cultural heritage. In Ghana, festivals like AfroFuture and Afro Nation attract global celebrities and influencers as well as returning citizens. But this isn't just a holiday fling. Propelled by youthful energy and cultural innovation, it's an economic phenomenon. And it represents a shift in Africa's urban landscape and its relationship with the rest of the world. Detty December now stands as a pillar of Africa's creative economy, which has built on the global popularity of music from the continent, from Afrobeats to amapiano. As marketing and entrepreneurship lecturers with an eye on the creative industries, we've researched Detty December and believe it's a cultural tourism phenomenon with the potential to spread across the continent. In fact, it's already begun to do so. Despite infrastructure challenges, places like Lagos are new cultural epicentres. During Detty December the city becomes a carnival of reunions and celebrations. 'I Just Got Backs' (IJGBs) return, music spills from every bar and events pop up daily. Once simply a cultural moment, Detty December has rapidly become a powerful economic engine. It makes a big impact on hospitality, entertainment, tourism and local businesses. In Lagos alone, the 2024 festivities generated an estimated US$71.6 million in state revenue. Hotels contributed US$44 million and short-term rentals added US$30 million. Nationally, the impact is even more staggering. Detty December injected over US$220 million into Nigeria's economy in 2023. A major driver of this growth is tourism. An estimated 1.2 million visitors flocked to Lagos in December 2024. Nearly 90% of these were diaspora Nigerians. Afrobeats star Wizkid's Made in Lagos concert alone pulled in nearly US$650,000 in ticket sales. New song releases on Fridays have become features of the season. Beyond direct spending, Detty December creates temporary and permanent jobs and bolsters small businesses. The government of neighbouring Ghana has recognised this potential, strategically branding its festive season December in GH. This initiative leverages cultural tourism for substantial economic gain. The country even takes measures like visa-on-arrival in December to encourage visitors. This builds on cultural tourism successes like the 2019 Year of Return campaign. In 2023, December in GH reportedly attracted about 115,000 participants. Even in a challenging economic climate, Detty December continues to thrive. This indicates a desire for cultural connection and a much-needed escape, especially among the continent's youth and its global diaspora communities. From Flytime in Lagos and AfroNation in Accra to Alte Sounds in Kigali and the vibrant December nightlife in Mombasa or Johannesburg's rooftop party events, African cities have become seasonal epicentres for cultural consumption. 'Ke Dezemba' is a term used in South Africa to describe the festive season. It's a vibrant and celebratory term that's often associated with summer holidays, braaiing (barbecuing) and social gatherings. It could become the branding of the country's own Detty December. South Africa's global profile has been raised during its 2025 presidency of the G20. Adopting its own version of Detty December could continue to amplify Brand South Africa. It could show off the country's vibrancy, creativity, hospitality and potential for investment. Aligning cultural celebration with global visibility could reframe a season of revelry into a strategic cultural and economic asset. For South Africa, this could inject capital into the tourism sector, boosting hospitality, transport and ancillary services. Read more: Beyond direct tourism, the spotlight on South African art and culture during this period could make a lasting impact on the creative economy, fostering growth and job creation. Physical celebration could be digitally amplified to make a lasting impression. A notable example is Spotify's unveiling of its Detty December hub. The music streaming service intends celebrating the festive season across west Africa and South Africa with playlists of party tracks. Spotify's Phiona Okumu explains: Detty December is a special time for our users in west Africa, and Ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa's spirit of celebration. The lessons from west African cities suggest that cultural economies thrive with: flexible governance inclusive participation engaged diasporas innovative business models. For Nigeria's Detty December model to be sustainable it would require strategic policy support, urban planning integration and investment in creative infrastructure. Funding models such as memberships and sponsorships are crucial for the longevity of music festivals. Policy support and infrastructure investment are necessary to unlock the full potential of the creative sector. Cultural tourism, powerfully embodied by Detty December, is emerging as a viable economic strategy for African cities. This signals a broader recognition of culture's economic power. It offers a compelling canvas for economic development and nation branding. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Nnamdi O. Madichie, University of Kigali; Motshedisi Mathibe, University of Pretoria, and NobuLali Dangazele, University of Pretoria Read more: Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high The South African apartheid movement's close relationship with the American right – then and now Migrants in South Africa's economic powerhouse often go hungry: the drivers and what can be done about it The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi names his three best African players in the Premier League this season
Despite relegation being confirmed, the Foxes are focused on finishing strong. Ahead of their weekend clash with Ipswich, Showmax caught up with midfield maestro Wilfred Ndidi. The Nigeria-born midfielder shares his honest reflections on a challenging campaign and offers insights into playing alongside the legendary Jamie Vardy. It's been an honour. It's been a pleasure to be a teammate with Jamie Vardy. Even after football, you'd be like, oh, I play with Jamie Vardy. I feel like it's a privilege and a pleasure to play alongside him. And he's been amazing for years. He's been an amazing guy, family man, so he's mentally strong. I think he's one of the strongest guys I've seen mentally in the head. The most prominent news from Leicester City is the departure of club icon Jamie Vardy at the end of this season. Could you reflect on your experience sharing the dressing room and the pitch with a player widely regarded as one of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers? He's really, really strong. I admire him. It's been a couple of great, great years with him. Ups and downs, but he's still Jamie Vardy. Jamie's on-camera persona suggests a pretty lively character. Is this consistent with his off-field demeanour within the squad? Oh, yeah, the way he is on-camera and how he expresses himself, he's the same guy. You have to be on your toes when he's just around. There might be something coming up, and you drop your guard, Vards might just scare you or something. He's really annoying in a good way, he just keeps the whole mood alive. He's that guy, and he tries to imitate things, and make it fun. Even trying to learn Pidgin, Nigerian - he learns the words, and then uses it on the Nigerian guys around with me, he just speaks and they'll be like, oh, what's he say? It's Jamie Vardy! So, he's a great guy, he's a great, great guy. This season has presented significant challenges for Leicester City. How would you analyse the key factors of the campaign and what constructive takeaways can you and your teammates really carry forward? I feel like we gave up too quickly when it comes to games. As soon as we concede one goal, the heads go down. I think that shouldn't happen going forward. I think that's my take on things: we should look forward to going forward, you know. Personally, looking back at the season, is there a particular Leicester City match that stands out as your most memorable? And what made that specific game so significant for you? I would say the Crystal Palace game away. We drew 2-2 and I got two assists. I was muted the whole game, like, muted before the game. I didn't speak to anyone. I didn't want to speak to anyone. I was just going through some things and then I went in the game and I had two assists. That was a good game. Which Premier League team's overall performance and approach have impressed you the most throughout the course of this season? I would say Nottingham Forest. They just stick to the basics and just get the goals, defend, get the goals, and that's what they need. Considering the individual battles you've faced, which Premier League player has posed the most significant challenge for you this season? I can't really think of a game where I felt a challenge. I'll just say the last game against Wolves. Matthias Cunha. He's a good player. He was everywhere. He was doing his thing. From a tactical perspective, which Premier League team has been the most formidable opponent to compete against this season? I would say Manchester City away. It was a difficult game. We tried as much as we could to get close to the ball, but we were not getting the balls. It was difficult because they were moving the ball really, really fast and the positioning was great. Looking ahead, would you say that an immediate return to the Premier League is now the primary and unequivocal objective for Leicester City? Of course. But first, we have to learn from this. If we don't learn from this, we're just wasting our time. We just have to learn from this season. Catch Leicester City v Ipswich Town live on Showmax Premier League & SuperSport on Sunday, 18 May 2025 at 16:00
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pidgin and United Bankers' Bank Named American Banker's 2025 Innovation of the Year
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pidgin, a secure, real-time payments platform built for the future of payments, is proud to announce that its partnership with United Bankers' Bank (UBB) has been recognized as one of American Banker's Innovations of the Year for 2025. This prestigious award highlights the groundbreaking work Pidgin and UBB have accomplished in bringing instant payment capabilities to community banks across the United States. The collaboration between Pidgin and UBB has empowered more than 1,000 community banks to offer their customers secure and convenient payment options through the FedNow Service, the Federal Reserve's instant payment offering. Share According to UBB, 'Receiving this Innovation of the Year award is a proud moment for us and a testament to the strength of our collaboration with Pidgin. At UBB, we are focused on operational excellence and customer-centric innovation. By partnering with Pidgin, we've accelerated our ability to deliver seamless, secure, and modern payment experiences that meet the evolving needs of our clients.' The collaboration between Pidgin and UBB has empowered more than 1,000 community banks to offer their customers secure and convenient payment options through the FedNow Service, the Federal Reserve's instant payment offering. By providing community banks with access to cutting-edge payment technology, Pidgin and UBB have helped level the playing field, allowing smaller financial institutions to compete effectively with larger banks and fintech companies. Since going live with Pidgin, UBB has consistently increased the number of partner banks participating in the FedNow Service by 5-10% each month. The partnership enables community banks to process transactions quickly and securely across a variety of use cases, including Peer-to-Peer (P2P), Consumer-to-Business (C2B), Business-to-Consumer (B2C), and Business-to-Business (B2B) payments. "Being recognized by American Banker for our work with UBB is a tremendous honor that validates our mission to make instant payments accessible to financial institutions of all sizes," said Abhishek Veeraghanta, Founder and CEO of Pidgin. "This award belongs equally to the team at UBB, whose forward-thinking approach to payments has enabled their network of community banks to participate fully in the real-time payments landscape." American Banker's Innovation of the Year awards will be presented at a special gala during the Digital Banking Conference in Boca Raton on June 14, 2025. The awards recognize groundbreaking solutions driving real business impact and redefining what's possible in banking and financial services. About Pidgin Pidgin is an innovative and secure faster payments ecosystem, enabling financial institutions, business owners, and individuals to process transactions quickly and with lower fees. Engineered for the future of payments, Pidgin allows financial institutions to send and receive instant payments while keeping funds within the institution, rather than a third-party holding account. For more information, visit or follow Pidgin on LinkedIn.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
How some residents dey live in fear under Boko Haram and Iswap control for Borno State
Some reports wey dey come from Borno State for northeast Nigeria don show say some local goment areas dey under Boko Haram and Iswap control. For weekend, Senator Ali Ndume yarn dis one for tori pipo for Abuja say three local goment areas currently dey under Boko Haram control. Di local goments na Gudumbari, Marte and Abadam. Recently, Borno State Govnor Babagana Zulum complain say Boko Haram and Iswap attacks don increase again for di state. E tok say federal goment gatz take action bifor di mata worse pass as e be now. Pipo wey dey live for dis places tell BBC News Pidgin say dem don dey under Boko Haram and Iswap control for over six years, and dem dey live inside fear evriday. One resident from Gudumbari wey no wan make we mention im name sake of security reason tell BBC News Pidgin say since 2018, dem never get any help from Nigerian military. E say dem dey under control of di terrorists afta dem attack and distroy military base wey suppose dey protect some villages for Gudumbari local goment. "Since 2018 wey dem scata di military base, about ten of our villages don fall under Boko Haram and Iswap control. "Now, na only Gudumbari headquarters still dey under military, but almost all di villages for di local goment dey under terrorists," e tok. E still add say, "Our pipo wey dey live for dia bin dey always dey fear sake of say di terrorists dey waka round time to time." E tok say Boko Haram and Iswap dey collect tax and food from pipo becos na farming di pipo sabi do. "From time to time, dem go come collect food, especially afta harvest. Dem go still collect tax from pipo hand." E tell BBC News Pidgin say sometimes dem dey punish pipo wey do anytin wey wrong. "If pesin do wrong, dem go punish am or flog am." E also tok say as e be now, nobodi fit waka comot from di local goment go Maiduguri sake of security wahala. "If you see anybodi wey dey comot from Maiduguri to Gudumbari, na either wit di govnor convoy or soldiers escort," e yarn. UK Supreme Court give legal definition of woman Ponzi schemes wey don crash for Nigeria in di last 10 years No civilian dey live for Abadam local goment For Abadam local goment, di mata worse sake of say nobodi dey live dia again due to security palava. One source tell BBC News Pidgin say almost no human being dey live dia apart from soldiers wey dey for di local goment headquarters. "Now, na only soldiers dey live for di main headquarters sake of say all di pipo don japa to save dia lives." "About half of di pipo for dat local goment don run go Niger Republic as refugees, odas scata go nearby states for Borno." Di source also tok say pipo no fit waka straight for road go Maiduguri again, dem gatz pass through Niger Republic. We no fit buy food stuff alone unless we dey travel wit soldiers For Marte local goment, pipo wey dey live dia don still run. According to one resident of di area, Babagana Ali, nobody dey live for di old Marte town again. "Up till now, nobody dey live for old Marte local goment. Some pipo now dey live for New Marte wey far like 12km from di old town." E tok say pipo for di area dey live in fear sake of say Boko Haram dey attack dem evri few months. "Pipo dey live inside fear sake of say from time to time, terrorists dey attack us for New Marte wia we dey now." E add say anoda kasala wey pipo dey face be say dem no fit waka go nearby town like Dikwa go buy food stuff. "Pipo no fit go buy food unless na month end, wen soldiers go use convoy escort dem." Di residents dey beg goment and oda pipo wey fit help to come bring beta peace to dia areas. Borno State don dey struggle wit security palava for more dan 10 years, and e claim so many lives and also force so many pipo to comot from dia homes.
