Jan. 12, 2018 10:35AM EST

Accomplished Nigerian-British Model, Harry Uzoka, Has Died

In a "robbery gone wrong," the 25-year-old model was tragically stabbed to death in West London Thursday.

Harry Uzoka, a Nigerian-British model who has been making a mark internationally in the modeling world, was stabbed to death in West London in what police describe as a "robbery gone wrong" Thursday.

The Evening Standard reports Uzoka was found "collapsed on a pavement suffering a knife wound to his chest." Reports say he stumbled through a nearby estate before falling to the ground in front of horrified passers-by in East Acton.

Paramedics tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"This is another tragic murder with a young male victim who has met a violent death," Met Police Detective Inspector Beverley Kofi, says to IBTimes UK. Kofi adds that two men, aged 27 and 28, were arrested nearby on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

"We have made two arrests and continue to pursue a number of lines of inquiry," he says.

Uzoka was represented by Premier Model Management. He was 25.

This news has sent shockwaves of sadness around the world, as Uzoka was just getting started to reach his full potential. Condolences have been pouring in since morning on social media, where we learn he was a beautiful person—in and out.

Harry Uzoka was an absolute icon. He became a household name in the modelling industry, he set the bar for British… https://t.co/8Canc9Vp3k
— THE PYBW (@THE PYBW) 1515762980.0

Rest in Peace Harry Uzoka, I used to look up to this guy man, shit doesn’t even make sense
— 👤 (@👤) 1515762860.0

My heart goes out to Harry Uzoka family losing someone to knife crime is devastating man
— Young Dirty Sprite (@Young Dirty Sprite) 1515762782.0

This news about Harry Uzoka has spun me on a next level. God. His future was too bright and was an established mode… https://t.co/SsmtaQpsxf
— #LoveInTheCity (@#LoveInTheCity) 1515763784.0

just read about the murder of Harry Uzoka. SHOCKED. i met him various times and thought he was always so cool. my h… https://t.co/zf0JwaAIPp
— MNEK (@MNEK) 1515769265.0

@HarryUzoka Still feels like yesterday when I walked past a poster of his and smiled, like "yes, he's doing great things"...I'm just.. wow.
— Oloni (@Oloni) 1515761216.0

Harry Uzoka was amongst the first young African models that stood out to me. It amazed me to see a young African ma… https://t.co/50YaAO7rFD
— Itoro Daniel (@Itoro Daniel) 1515765819.0

RIP Harry Uzoka. Your physical and inner beauty will never be forgotten. You paved the way for so many. Rest easy n… https://t.co/kDIKYkmXCa
— blackloivsma-a (@blackloivsma-a) 1515765320.0

@HarryUzoka Seriously if this is real, just know the whole of Dagenham is 💔 @HarryUzoka made us all proud and I ju… https://t.co/AMu6caFc1M
— Keeks ✨ (@Keeks ✨) 1515762711.0

Harry Uzoka was literally a young icon for black boys in the UK and London. RIP - absolutely shocking news
— Lew Bloyce (@Lew Bloyce) 1515763241.0

Music

Photo by Joshua Okocha.

Burna Boy is the First African Artist to Sell Out London Stadium

The Nigerian superstar became the first African artist to sell out London’s 80,000-capacity stadium, during his June 3rd performance. The U.S. is next, where he'll be the first African artist to headline a stadium, at New York's Citi Field.

Africa’s Giant is showing no signs of slowing down on his mission to dominate stages across the globe. This weekend, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Burna Boy became the first African artist to sell out the U.K.’s London Stadium – the city’s 80,000-capacity multi-purpose arena. “I told them I’m a genius”, the singer said as he made the incredible feat with no warm-up acts and continues to take his Love, Damini tour beyond his wildest dreams.

The three-hour show seemed to be an event to remember. A fan-posted video showed the singer’s reaction to the massive crowd singing his hit single "It’s Plenty" back to him. The 60,000-strong audience joined Burna in celebrating how far African music, more specifically Afrobeats, has soared in the last few years. Offering a delicious career-spanning collection of hits, the singer and the crowd were in agreement on how much energy was needed to truly appreciate the moment. Burna’s latest accomplishment has seemingly become his modus operandi as he’s previously sold out London’s Wembley and O2 Arenas, and earlier this year he set himself up to be the first African artist to headline a U.S. Stadium.

London Stadium took to their official Twitter account to announce the singer’s historic occasion saying, “NOW SOLD OUT @burnaboy’s RECORD-BREAKING concert has now officially SOLD OUT. What an incredible achievement for the first-ever African artist to solo headline a U.K. stadium. For those lucky enough to make it, enjoy the show.” The star replied, in a now edited Tweet, “I told them I’m a genius.” However, sweet words still made available to his Twitter fans read, “Believe. Sold Out Business. Thank you, London and love to everyone that supported me in making history. Till the next one.”

Burna brought out a host of fellow global hitmakers to make the most of his and the fans’ experience. The singer brought out British rappers Stormzy, and Jhus to perform ‘Real Life’ with the former, and Jamaican artist Popcaan got his chance to deliver a stellar performance of their collab ‘Aboboyaa’ with the man of the evening. Burna was also sure to pay tributes to his former collaborator, the late Indian rapper ‘Sidhu Moose Wala’ as he gave a heartwarming rendition of their single ‘Mera Na’, which was released after the artist’s passing.

London Stadium did its due diligence in awarding the singer with a prestigious plaque, solidifying his amazing accomplishment and the indescribable success Burna Boy has created for himself.

Fans took to social media to help celebrate the artist’s achievement:

\u201cThe fact he had no warm-up acts shows how far Afrobeats has come.\n\n"Some artists do add supporting acts to help move tickets, Burna Boy and his band didn't need any of that,...\n\n"To know he has that much star power is something we've never seen before in African music." \u2014BBC UK\u201d
— W\u00ed\u00f1\u00e7\u00f4 (@W\u00ed\u00f1\u00e7\u00f4) 1685986587

\u201cBurna Boy went from serving jail time, being banned from the UK for 7 years, went back in 2016 and has gone on to sell out the Wembley, O2 Arena and tonight he\u2019s performing in front of over 80,000 people as the first African to sell out a stadium in the UK.\n\nHE DIDN\u2019T GIVE UP. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d
— benny. (@benny.) 1685826453

\u201cBurna Boy just did. \ud83d\ude0a\u201d
— Unruly Outsider (@Unruly Outsider) 1685943099

\u201cBurna boy. How dare you bring out Popcaan, Dave, J Hus and Stormzy all in one concert. Don\u2019t ever let me enjoy like that again \ud83d\ude21 what a show!\u201d
— SP\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1 (@SP\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1) 1685833970

\u201cThe fans singing Ye as they make their way out of the London Stadium after an amazing show \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\u201d
— BURNA BOY STATS (@BURNA BOY STATS) 1685838383

\u201cburna boy was just so amazing, i want to do it all over again \ud83d\ude2d\u201d
— suz (@suz) 1685902824

News Brief

ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Uganda's President Will "Go To War" Over New Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

President Museveni is defending the world's harshest anti-human rights bill, threatening death for being gay.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has declared that he will go to war to protect the country's anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed this week. "The NRM (National Resistance Movement) has never had two languages," he said in a statement released by his office on Wednesday, "What we tell you in the day is what we shall say to you at night. The signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is finished; nobody will move us, and we should be ready for a war. Remember, war is not for the soft." Museveni made an onslaught of chaotic comments when he met with lawmakers from his ruling party this week, as he continues to defend signing one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ+ bills to date.

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Accomplished Nigerian-British Model, Harry Uzoka, Has Died

In a "robbery gone wrong," the 25-year-old model was tragically stabbed to death in West London Thursday.

Burna Boy is the First African Artist to Sell Out London Stadium

The Nigerian superstar became the first African artist to sell out London’s 80,000-capacity stadium, during his June 3rd performance. The U.S. is next, where he'll be the first African artist to headline a stadium, at New York's Citi Field.

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