Janelle Monáe To receive 2025 Vanguard Spotlight Award

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Janelle Monáe to receive 2025 Vanguard Spotlight Award at Costume Designers Guild Awards, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems nominated for 2025 NAACP Awards, West Ham fire Julen Lopetegui. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.

1. Janelle Monáe to receive the 2025 Vanguard Spotlight Award at Costume Designers Guild Awards

Janelle Monáe, renowned for her bold and fearless artistry in music, film, and fashion, will be celebrated with the Vanguard Spotlight Award at the 27th Costume Designers Guild Awards (CDGA). The event, scheduled for Thursday, February 6, will take place at The Ebell of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. This accolade honors performing artists who ignite the imaginations of audiences and industry experts alike, recognizing their visionary courage and groundbreaking contributions across creative realms. Monáe joins an esteemed legacy as only the second recipient of this award, following Billie Eilish, who received the inaugural Award last year.

In addition to Janelle Monáe, the 2025 CDGA will spotlight other industry icons, including Zoe Saldaña, who will receive the Spotlight Award, Jenny Beavan, honored with the Career Achievement Award, and Salvador Perez, who will be recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. With a reputation for pushing boundaries and redefining artistic norms, Monáe’s recognition underscores their role as a trailblazer whose work continues to inspire and elevate standards in costume design and storytelling.

2. Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems nominated for 2025 NAACP Awards

Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems have earned prestigious nominations for the 56th NAACP Awards, underscoring the global impact of Afrobeats and Nigerian creativity. Scheduled for February 22, at the Pasadena Civic Centre in California, the event celebrates outstanding achievements across various entertainment and activism categories. Wizkid received two nods for his hit collaboration with Brent Faiyaz on Piece of My Heart,” securing nominations for Outstanding Duo or Collaboration and Outstanding International Song. Burna Boy, alongside Usher, is in the running for Best Collaboration with their track “Coming Home,” while Tems’ soulful “Love Me JeJe” earned her a nomination for Outstanding International Song.

This year’s nominations also highlighted other Nigerian talents, including actress Ayo Edebiri, who received an impressive five nods, ranging from Outstanding Voiceover to Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. South African singer Tyla is also in contention for Outstanding New Artist. The 2025 NAACP Awards continue to spotlight the excellence of African artists and creatives, amplifying their voices on the global stage. Fans eagerly await the event, which promises to be a celebration of cultural diversity and artistic brilliance.

3. Kanye West calls out sportswear giant Adidas over alleged sabotage of his fashion line

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, has reignited his feud with sportswear giant Adidas, accusing the company of undermining his Yeezy brand despite their partnership ending in 2022. In a fiery Instagram post, Ye claimed Adidas manipulated Google search results to prioritize its own website over Yeezy.com and alleged past misconduct, including design theft and intimidation tactics during their collaboration. “Members at Adidas, stop doing this. Stop doing your moves to hold me back,” Ye wrote, asserting that the company’s actions continued to affect his brand long after their business ties were severed.

The accusations come nearly two years after Adidas severed its partnership with Ye over his anti-Semitic remarks, a decision that abruptly halted Yeezy production and cost Adidas an estimated €1.5 billion in annual revenue. Despite selling off unsold Yeezy stock in 2023, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden admitted Yeezy’s impact was irreplaceable. Ye remains undeterred, revealing Yeezy.com generated $100 million in just six months last year and promised a bold relaunch, declaring, “The Yeezy $20 price is burning the game to the ground, leaving only Yeezy left. Yeezy over everything.”

4. Spotify names Ayo Maff, Kaestyle, Llona among emerging stars to watch out for

Spotify has unveiled its list of breakout stars to watch in 2025, spotlighting rising talents like Ayo Maff, Kaestyle, Llona, and TML Vibez. Ayo Maff’s remix of “Dealer” featuring Fireboy DML stood out as Spotify Nigeria’s most-streamed song of the year, cementing his status as a street-pop sensation. His follow-up single, Are You There, further showcased his knack for creating anthems that resonate deeply with listeners. With his debut album expected in 2025, Ayo Maff is poised for an even bigger year.

Joining Ayo Maff on the list is Kaestyle, whose feel-good singles “My Dealer” featuring Omah Lay and Egberi earned him a place among Nigeria’s most exciting new voices. Llona captivated audiences with the raw emotion of his debut album “Homeless,” which ranked among the top albums of 2024. Meanwhile, TML Vibez electrified listeners with his joint EP alongside DJ 4kerty, featuring hits like “Wavy.” As Afrobeats continues its global ascent, these rising stars exemplify the genre’s dynamic energy and cultural impact.

5. West Ham fires Julen Lopetegui after Man City and Liverpool thrashings

West Ham United have parted ways with head coach Julen Lopetegui following a string of poor performances, including back-to-back Premier League thrashings by Manchester City and Liverpool. The Hammers conceded nine goals across the two matches while scoring only once, leaving the club seven points above the relegation zone. Despite investing heavily in the summer transfer window with a £130 million outlay, the team has struggled to perform, winning just six of their 20 matches in the 2024/25 season. In a statement, the club thanked Lopetegui and his staff for their efforts but cited the first half of the season’s results as inconsistent with the club’s ambitions.

Graham Potter, the former Brighton and Chelsea manager, is set to take over as Lopetegui’s replacement. Potter has been out of management since departing Chelsea in April 2023 after a seven-month stint. His appointment marks a critical turning point for West Ham, who are looking to stabilize their season and climb the Premier League table. The Hammers will face Aston Villa in an FA Cup third-round clash on Friday, where Potter is expected to make his debut in the dugout. The club and its supporters will be hoping for an immediate turnaround under the new leadership.

Featured Image: Mason Rose via @janellemonae/Instagram


Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2024.


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