Nigerian pop sensation Ayra Starr and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard have been added to the list of stars for the Giants of Africa Festival 2025, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 26 to August 2.

Giants of Africa Festival 2025 will bring together 320 young athletes from 20 African nations, and more than 20,000 spectators for a week of community, culture, basketball, education, and entertainment.

Ayra Starr will perform at the festival’s closing concert on August 2, joining a powerhouse line-up that includes Afrobeats stars Kizz Daniel and Timaya.

Additionally, local Rwandan artist Alyn Sano is now set to perform at the festival’s inaugural Threads of Africa Fashion Show on July 31.

Launching a week of unforgettable music moments, the festival’s exhilarating opening show on July 27 will feature performances by South African DJ phenomenon Uncle Waffles and MTV VMA-winning choreographer Sherrie Silver. Rwandan stars Kevin Kade, Ruti Joël, Boukuru and Chriss Easy will also perform on the opening weekend.

Two-time NBA champion Leonard has also been added to the Giants of Africa Festival 2025’s all-star line-up.

The LA Clippers forward will mentor youth campers, open a new basketball court in partnership with Giants of Africa at St Ignatius School, and host a special clinic for 50 local youth at Club Rafiki in one of Kigali’s most underserved districts.

Additional celebrity guests appearing throughout the week include Robin Roberts, Chiney Ogwumike, Didier Drogba, Michael Blackson, Boris Kodjoe, and more.

Giants of Africa is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering African youth through basketball, founded by basketball executive and former player Masai Ujiri.

Ujiri recently appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Good Morning America to discuss how the festival unites communities, spark potential, and drive transformative change across the continent.

Fauja Singh, a British-Indian man believed to be the world’s oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car in India at the age of 114.

Police said Singh was crossing a road in the village where he was born in Punjab when an unidentified vehicle hit him.

Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100.

His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.

The hit and run happened on Monday as the centenarian was walking in his birth village, Beas Pind, near Jalandhar.

As news of the death broke, tributes poured in.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him an “exceptional athlete with incredible determination”.

Harmander Singh, Fauja Singh’s coach at Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death in a statement posted to the running club.

The statement said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India.

A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh clocked several milestones during his running career, including reportedly becoming the first centenarian to complete a full marathon in 2011 in Toronto.

However, his claim of being the world’s oldest marathon runner was not recognised by Guinness World Records as he could not show a birth certificate from 1911. Singh’s British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

His trainer, Harmander Singh, said that birth certificates were not made in India at the time Singh was born.

Guinness World Records officials said they would have loved “to give him the record”, but that they could only “accept official birth documents created in the year of the birth”.

As a young boy growing up in Punjab, Singh was teased by people in his village as his legs were weak and he could not walk properly until the age of five.

“But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history,” he told BBC Punjabi in June.

Before he turned 40, Singh, a farmer, had lived through the turbulence of both the World Wars and experienced the trauma of Partition.

He first took to running to cope with grief.

After the death of his wife Gian Kaur in the early 1990s, he moved to London to live with his eldest son Sukhjinder. But during a visit to India, he witnessed his younger son Kuldeep’s death in an accident which left him devastated.

Overtaken by grief, Singh would spend hours sitting near the spot where his son had been cremated. Concerned villagers advised his family to take him back to the UK.

Back in Ilford in London, during one of his visits to the gurdwara, Singh met a group of elderly men who would go on runs together. He also met Harmander Singh, who would go on to become his coach.

Singh made his debut at the London Marathon in 2000, a month shy of turning 89. He participated through a Golden Bond entry – a system where charities pre-purchase a fixed number of spots for a fee. He chose to run for BLISS, a charity that supports premature infants. His tagline: “Oldest running for the youngest! May they live as long as him.”

Singh says that before the run, he was told by event officials that he could only wear a patka (headgear worn by many Sikh boys and men) and not a turban.

“I refused to run without my turban. Eventually, the organisers allowed me to run with it, and for me, that’s my biggest achievement,” he said.

He finished the race in six hours and 54 minutes, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.

By his third successive appearance at the London marathon, he had shaved off nine minutes from his previous best.

In 2003, at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, he bettered his timing by an astonishing one hour and five minutes, completing the race in five hours and 40 minutes.

Singh shot to international fame when Adidas signed him for their 2004 Impossible is Nothing advertising campaign, which also featured legends such as Muhammad Ali.

In 2005, he was invited by Pakistan’s prime minister to participate in the inaugural Lahore marathon. A year later, in 2006, he received a special invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to visit Buckingham Palace.

Among the many mementos and certificates displayed at Singh’s home in Punjab is a framed photograph of him with the Queen.

He continued to compete in marathons well into his 100s and earned the nickname “Turbaned Tornado”. Most of his earnings from endorsements went directly to charitable foundations.

In 2013, he participated in his last long-distance competitive race in Hong Kong, completing a 10km run in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He credited his health and longevity to a simple lifestyle and disciplined diet.

In his final years, Singh divided his time between India and the UK.

British MP Preet Kaur Gill shared a photo of herself with him on X, writing: “A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me.”

Jas Athwal MP said Singh “inspired millions across the world”. He wrote on X: “His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever.”

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has denied widespread social media claims that he distributed luxury vehicles to players and officials of Kano Pillars following his appointment as the club’s general manager.

In a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday, the Super Eagles captain dismissed the viral reports, describing them as false and misleading.

The rumour, which had circulated earlier in the day, alleged that Musa gifted brand new Land Cruisers to all members of the team and coaching staff as a gesture to mark his return to Pillars in an executive capacity.

Reacting to the development, Musa said the story was completely fabricated and urged the public and media to be more discerning about the information they share online.

“It has come to my attention that false information is being circulated claiming that I distributed cars to players and officials following my appointment as general manager of Kano Pillars Football Club,” he wrote on X.

“This claim is entirely untrue.

“I urge the public, media outlets, and individuals on social media to verify information from credible sources before sharing. Spreading unverified news not only misleads the public but also undermines the integrity of the club and its leadership,” he added.

He concluded by reiterating his focus on reviving the fortunes of the four-time NPFL champions.

“Our focus remains on building a strong, disciplined, and successful team. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”

A fact-check conducted by our correspondent traced the images of the Land Cruiser jeeps associated with the false claim to a different story entirely.

The vehicles were originally shared online in March 2024 as part of a report on Nasir Idris, Governor of Kebbi State, who had donated 24 Toyota jeeps to members of the state House of Assembly.

Despite the misinformation, Musa appeared unfazed as he joined Pillars players in training on Tuesday, reaffirming his dual role as both an active player and administrator.

Musa was officially unveiled as general manager of Kano Pillars on Saturday, July 5 by the Kano State Government.

During his first official meeting with the club’s board on Monday, he pledged to restore the club’s stature in Nigerian and African football.

“Kano Pillars is our club and one of the most successful in Nigeria, but in recent years, the story has changed,” Musa told board members during the familiarisation session.

“I want to assure everyone here that, with your support and the backing of the board members, I will do everything possible to reposition the club and make it one of the finest not only in Africa but globally. Having played here and with the experience I gained in Europe, I believe I can contribute meaningfully to help the club achieve its full potential.”

He also emphasised the need for unity, strategic planning, and dedication among all stakeholders as the team looks to usher in a new era under his leadership.