Latest news with #KanyaKing
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Idris Elba unveils Mobo paving stone at college where he ‘got to dream bigger'
On Friday, Elba, 52, who hails from Hackney, and is most known for his acting roles in BBC drama Luther and US crime series The Wire, returned to Barking and Dagenham College, which he attended as a young person. His stone forms part of the Paving The Way award, issued by the Mobo organisation, which supports talent in music, film and TV and holds an annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in black music and culture. The award celebrates cultural pioneers who have made a lasting impact in the arts, with Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and comedian Sir Lenny Henry among the recipients. Idris Elba is joined by Kanya King during a visit to Barking and Dagenham College, London, which he used to attend, to lay a commemorative MOBO 'Paving the Way' stone (Lucy North/PA) The award winners are asked to choose a location for the stone that holds a deep personal meaning, with Elba choosing the college where he studied performing arts. The event, which included a Q&A with the students, took place inside the college's Idris Elba Studio — a professional film and TV facility named in his honour. Asked by a student if he had ever imagined how successful he would become, Elba said: 'I mean, yes, I think to be here in the first place, you're already imagining what the future can be. 'And so I was always thinking about what success might look like. 'I didn't know how to get there, but I could see it. I could see it on the silver screen. I could see it in my idols, Eddie Murphy, I saw it everywhere. 'But the truth is, what kept me grounded, what kept me focused (as a student) is being in a facility where I get to fall down, get up, fall down, as many times as I want, and I literally found this place, we all did, as a haven, a safe space to actually, not only imagine yourself being a movie star, but try it and fail, and try it, and fail. 'The thing about dreaming is that it happens on a 24-hour cycle. 'So every day I got to come back here, I got to dream bigger. I got to, definitely learn and sharpen how I was going to get there, and that's really important.' Elba unveiled the stone alongside Mobo Awards founder and chief executive Kanya King. Alongside his acting career the film and TV star performs as a DJ and has campaigned against knife crime.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mobos founder Kanya King says ‘advocate' for your health after cancer diagnosis
Mobo Awards founder Kanya King has encouraged others to 'take control and advocate for yourself' after discovering she has stage four bowel cancer by requesting more medical tests as she knew something did not 'feel right'. King, chief executive of the event which celebrates and elevates black music in the UK, said the first standard bowel cancer test came back negative but the second more in-depth test revealed there was an issue. Despite being told she may have six months to live, the music industry pioneer said she has a 'positive mindset' and believes she will live to a 'ripe old age'. The inspirational MOBO Awards founder Kanya King, who was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, talks to @charlottehawkns and Richard about how determined she is for it not to defeat her, as she highlights the importance of early awareness and testing. — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 17, 2025 Recalling the experience on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Monday, King, 56, said: 'I kept going back to the doctor. I kept saying 'I don't feel right. I'm very tired. I don't know what it is'. 'At first they thought it was a viral flu that I had so they gave all the usual tests associated with being tired and they said come back in a few weeks, and I kept going back and I realised that saved my life. 'Had I not gone back and kept on how I was going, I wouldn't be here telling my story. 'And for that, it's an important message I want to get across, because … you have to take control and advocate for yourself and trust your instincts and your gut.' Prior to her diagnosis she had done the standard bowel cancer people get in the post but it had been negative, and it was later after doing a fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which looks for blood in your stool which may not be visible, that it showed signs for concern. She said her doctor had learned from her experience and would be requesting further tests such as the FIT which have a higher detection rate when working with future patients. The diagnosis had been a shock to King as she had been leading a healthy lifestyle which included not drinking alcohol, not smoking and exercising regularly. The music industry pioneer is receiving treatment but said the diagnosis has been a 'huge change' to her life as medical scans, treatments, appointments and administration have now become her 'new normal'. 'I realise that life is really, really precious, so I have to be very intentional about what I do every day', she added. 'I mean, we all know that life on this planet is short, but I know it might be shorter for me, even though I've been told I have six months to live, that's not what I'm choosing to tell myself. 'I have the right positive mindset and I'm sure I'll be here till a ripe old age.' King, who grew up in a council flat in Kilburn, north-west London and became a mother at 16, began the Mobo Awards while working as a TV researcher. The inaugural event took place in 1996 at London's Grand Connaught Rooms and has since honoured trailblazing artists including Dave, Ghetts, Headie One, Central Cee, Aitch, and 2022 Mercury Prize winner Little Simz. King has continued to guide the organisation ahead of the 2025 Mobo Awards taking place on Tuesday and the milestone of its 30th anniversary in 2026. She said she is 'very proud' of what organisation has achieved after remortgaging her home to set the project up, but said it has been supported by a 'great team' who 'all work together'. 'I think what's fantastic is to see the emerging talent as young artists going on to become global superstars and changing the world in their own way,' she added. 'Every young person wants to make a difference to their family, community and country, and we want to give an opportunity to those incredibly driven, compassionate creators to make them up on the world, whether it's music, film, entertainment or business.' The Mobo Awards have partnered with Prostate Cancer UK this year to to raise awareness as black men are at higher risk of developing it so early detection is important.
