Chanel appoints Kendrick Lamar as brand ambassador for eyewear, Burna Boy makes history as first African artist to headline Stade De France, Stephen Curry leads Warriors to playoff win over Rockets. 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.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. Chanel appoints Kendrick Lamar as brand ambassador for eyewear
Kendrick Lamar has signed with Chanel as brand ambassador 🔥
Set to make his debut in a new eyewear campaign pic.twitter.com/KxPbDnmgUa
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) April 21, 2025
Chanel has officially named Grammy-winning rapper and entrepreneur Kendrick Lamar as the new face of its Spring 2025 eyewear campaign, launching on April 22. The partnership signals a strategic push by the French luxury house to connect more deeply with global youth culture through collaborations that merge fashion, music, and storytelling. Lamar appears alongside actors Margaret Qualley, Lily-Rose Depp, and Nana Komatsu in the campaign, which showcases Chanel’s latest eyewear collection. “Chanel has a timeless legacy, and that is always something I can get behind,” Lamar said of the collaboration. “Since they don’t make clothes for men, I knew it would have to be glasses.”
The partnership follows a growing relationship between Kendrick Lamar and the brand, beginning with his custom Chanel look at the 2023 Met Gala and continuing with pgLang’s co-creation of The Button, a fashion film that premiered during Chanel’s haute couture show. With eyewear positioned as one of Chanel’s most commercially dynamic and accessible categories, the move reflects a broader shift in luxury marketing, where cultural influence and cross-industry partnerships are crucial to staying relevant. According to Chanel fashion president Bruno Pavlovsky, eyewear is a strategic pillar in the brand’s business model. Lamar now joins an elite group of male ambassadors at Chanel, including G-Dragon and Timothée Chalamet, with future creative collaborations expected through his company pgLang.
2. Burna Boy makes history as the first African artist to headline Stade De France
Burna boy took over Paris and made history at Stade de France.
This is greatness 🔥
— MBAH (@Mbahdeyforyou) April 20, 2025
Global music icon Burna Boy made history on April 18, as he became the first African artist to headline a sold-out show at the iconic Stade De France in Paris. Performing in front of over 80,000 fans, the Afrofusion superstar delivered a sensational performance that celebrated African music on a grand global stage. The night kicked off with explosive sets from Nissi and Fireboy DML, who energized the crowd with their joint performance of “Nobody.” Burna Boy’s entrance electrified the stadium, taking fans on a dynamic musical journey through his biggest hits and powerful storytelling.
Surprise collaborations throughout the night elevated the experience further, as Burna Boy invited Shallipopi for a viral remix of “Laho,” Joé Dwèt Filé for their track “4KampeII,” and French star Dadju to the stage. UK rapper Dave also joined him for their global smash “Location,” setting social media abuzz. The historic performance not only reaffirmed Burna Boy’s place as one of the most influential artists in the world but also marked a defining moment for African music on the international stage. With each record-breaking milestone, Burna Boy continues to expand the reach of Afrobeats, proving that his sound knows no borders.
3. South Africa: Actor Joe Kazadi gets engaged
South African actor and model Joe Kazadi is officially off the market! The “Scandal!” and “Uzalo” star shared the exciting news of his engagement in a heartfelt joint Instagram post with his partner on Sunday. The couple posted intimate photos, including a close-up of a sparkling diamond ring and a romantic shot of them kissing, accompanied by the simple yet powerful caption, “A fiancé.” Fans and fellow celebrities have since flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages for the happy couple.
Kazadi, known for his roles in popular South African soapies like “Generations,” “Ekasi: Our Stories,” and “The Queen,” has typically kept his personal life out of the spotlight, often sharing only glimpses of fatherhood moments with his daughter, Omotola. While he has not yet revealed the identity of his fiancée, the news has sparked excitement across social media, with fans eager to learn more about the bride-to-be and the couple’s future plans.
4. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, aged 88
Pope Francis has died.
He dedicated himself to marginalized people – especially refugees – as the world’s politicians fought culture wars.
Here’s how the first Pope from the Global South changed the narrative: pic.twitter.com/aThNX66pJv
— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, the 266th Bishop of Rome, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. The announcement was made at 9:45 AM by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, from the Casa Santa Marta. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Farrell said with solemn reverence. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” he added, praising the late pontiff’s unwavering commitment to the Gospel, especially his tireless advocacy for the poor and marginalized. Pope Francis had battled a series of respiratory illnesses in recent years and was hospitalized in February with bilateral pneumonia before returning to the Vatican in late March to continue his recovery.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. His pontificate was defined by a message of mercy, humility, and a global call for peace. Despite significant health challenges, including a partial lung removal in his youth and frequent respiratory complications in his later years, he remained deeply active in Church affairs. Just a year before his death, he approved a revised edition of the papal funeral rites, requesting a simple and faith-centered ceremony. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the rites will reflect Francis’ wish to be remembered not as a powerful figure but as a servant and disciple of Christ. The funeral details have yet to be formally announced.
5. Stephen Curry leads the Warriors to a playoff win over Rockets
Steph Curry drops 31 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL as the Warriors get the WIN over the Rockets and STEAL GAME 1 in HOUSTON 💪
Jimmy Butler: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 5 STL pic.twitter.com/j9HElnaiNq
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 21, 2025
Stephen Curry delivered a standout performance, scoring a game-high 31 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 95-85 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. The seventh-seeded Warriors made it two consecutive wins in Houston, with Curry also contributing six rebounds and three assists. Jimmy Butler added 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, helping Golden State gain an early 1-0 series lead. “Steph was incredible. With that type of pressure on him from [Amen] Thompson and others, he just made some amazing plays,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday.
The second-seeded Rockets, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2019-20, struggled to shake off their late-season slump, extending their losing streak at home to two. Head coach Ime Udoka downplayed the idea that inexperience was to blame, instead pointing to physicality and poor decision-making under pressure. “Going into the lane, trying to shoot over too many and not finding your outlets is a big thing and a big key for us all year,” Udoka noted. Elsewhere in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat, with Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, and Darius Garland combining for 85 points, highlighted by Jerome’s 16-point fourth-quarter burst in his playoff debut.
Featured Image: Photo: Karim Sadli for Chanel
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 2025.
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