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Black celebrities kept busy this week, with appearances spanning music festivals, television premieres and major career milestones.
London welcomed several familiar faces as Jorja Smith, Tems, DESTIN CONRAD, Ayra Starr and others took the stage at All Points East. Aaron Pierre also stepped out in the city for a photocall celebrating DC Studios’ upcoming series Lanterns, while Deborah Ayorinde joined her Fightland castmates for a special screening.
In Los Angeles, R&B veterans Joe and Donell Jones revisited their catalogs during the latest Verzuz “R&B Nights” matchup, where 702 and 50 Cent were among the special guests. Angélique Kidjo made history nearby in Hollywood, becoming the first African musician honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. New York also saw RAYE take over Rockefeller Plaza for Today, and Patina Miller joined the company of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play ahead of its Manhattan Theatre Club production. On Sunday afternoon, Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to capture her second women’s Cincinnati Open title.
Take a look at the familiar faces spotted out and about this week.
Ayra Starr
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Ayra Starr performs during All Points East at Victoria Park on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Lorne Thomson/Redferns)
Jorja Smith
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Jorja Smith performs live on the main stage during All Points East 2026 at Victoria Park on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
Uncle Waffles
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Uncle Waffles performs during All Points East at Victoria Park on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
KWN
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: KWN performs during All Points East at Victoria Park on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Tems performs during All Points East.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Tems performs during All Points East at Victoria Park on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Brandan “BMike” Odums and Wendell Pierce.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 22: Brandan “BMike” Odums (R) presents Wendell Pierce with a StudioBE backpack during “They Fight” New Orleans Premiere at Orpheum Theater on August 22, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
Ashanti attends 2026 Second Chance Rescue Concert For A Cause.
BRIDGEHAMPTON, NEW YORK – AUGUST 21: Ashanti attends 2026 Second Chance Rescue Concert For A Cause on August 21, 2026 in Bridgehampton, New York. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Elizabeth Montano and Machel Montano speak during the ‘Journey Of A Soca King’ exhibition.’
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 21: Elizabeth Montano and Machel Montano speak during the ‘Journey Of A Soca King’ exhibition’ opening at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library on August 21, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
Swizz Beatz
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Swizz Beatz attends Apple Music and Complex present VERZUZ Live Match-Up: “R&B Nights” featuring Donell Jones vs. Joe at Apple Music Studios on August 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Complex)
Estelle
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Estelle attends Apple Music and Complex present VERZUZ Live Match-Up: “R&B Nights” featuring Donell Jones vs. Joe at Apple Music Studios on August 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Complex)
Misha Grinstead and Meelah Williams of 702 pose with Ebro Darden.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Misha Grinstead and Meelah Williams of 702 pose with Ebro Darden (C) at Apple Music and Complex present VERZUZ Live Match-Up: “R&B Nights” featuring Donell Jones vs. Joe at Apple Music Studios on August 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Complex)
Donell Jones, Estelle and Joe onstage at VERZUZ.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Donell Jones, Estelle and Joe onstage at Apple Music and Complex present VERZUZ Live Match-Up: “R&B Nights” featuring Donell Jones vs. Joe at Apple Music Studios on August 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Complex)
Anthony Anderson and Mookie Betts
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Anthony Anderson and Mookie Betts with FIJI Water at the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Annual Celebrity Dinner at The Beverly Hilton on August 20, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for FIJI Water)
Baby Rose talks with moderator Marcus J. Moore.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: Baby Rose (L) talks with moderator Marcus J. Moore at A New York Evening With Baby Rose at the Greene Space on August 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
The ladies of STARZ’s ‘Fightland.’
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Deborah Ayorinde and Tahirah Sharif attend a special UK screening of “Fightland” at The Ham Yard Hotel on August 20, 2026 in London, England. “Fightland” will be available on Sky and NOW from August 27th. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Sky)
Raye performs on NBC’s “Today.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: Raye performs on NBC’s “Today” at Rockefeller Plaza on August 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/FilmMagic)
D.C. Young Fly speaks stage during the “The Spell Off LIVE!”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 18: D.C. Young Fly speaks stage during the “The Spell Off LIVE!” on August 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for EightState Studios)
Kandi Burruss attends “The Spell Off LIVE!”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 18: Kandi Burruss attends “The Spell Off LIVE!” on August 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for EightState Studios)
Angelique Kidjo receives her star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 18: Angelique Kidjo is honored as the first African musician to receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 18, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Obatala Corporation)
Patina Miller poses in Manhattan.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 17: Patina Miller poses at a photo call for The Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” at Manhattan Theatre Club Rehearsal Studios on August 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
Mona Scott-Young and Tyrese Gibson attend the 25th Anniversary screening of “The Fast and the Furious”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 17: (L-R) Mona Scott-Young and Tyrese Gibson attend the 25th Anniversary screening of Universal Pictures’ “The Fast and the Furious” at Westwood Village Theater on August 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)
Rocsi Diaz
Honduran-US television host Rocsi Diaz attends the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner honoring the 2025 World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on August 20, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry / AFP via Getty Images)
Denzel Washington in Los Angeles.
US actor Denzel Washington speaks on stage during the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner honoring the 2025 World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on August 20, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry / AFP via Getty Images)
Allen Iverson at the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner.
US former professional basketball player Allen Iverson attends the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner honoring the 2025 World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on August 20, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry / AFP via Getty Images)
Aaron Pierre at the “Lanterns” Photocall in London.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Aaron Pierre attends the London Photocall for DC Studios’ “Lanterns” at IET London on August 17, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/WireImage)
Coco Gauff wins the Cincinnati Open.
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 23: Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the Rookwood Cup after winning the final round of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 23, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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