Daniel Kaluuya pays tribute to Jamal Edwards at BAFTAs 2022
"Eternal life to Jamal Edwards"
Daniel Kaluuya paid tribute to music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards at the BAFTAs last night (March 13).
Taking to the stage to present the Best Actress in a Leading Role award, the ‘Get Out’ actor said “Eternal life to Jamal Edwards,” before he introduced the nominees.
The SB.TV founder’s family confirmed that Edwards passed away from a “sudden illness” last month, aged just 31.
The music entrepreneur helped launched the careers of some of the British music industry’s biggest stars, including Ed Sheeran and Dave.
Joanna Scanlan was also named Best Actress for ‘After Love’ at last night’s ceremony, beating the likes of Lady Gaga and Alana Haim.
Last month, Dave paid tribute to the late musical pioneer during a live show at London’s O2 Arena. “Jamal Edwards is the reason I’m standing in front of you guys here today,” he told the crowd. “There’s so many different emotions that all of us feel – all of us that were so connected to him in so many different ways.
“We all have a different experience to him, but we all have so many things in common with the experience. And he’s one person in the world that just wanted to help, that just wanted to see every single person that he touched shine.”
Dave also revealed that Edwards paid for his earliest music videos when he couldn’t afford to produce them himself. “He gave me an opportunity when no-one would,” he said, “out of the love and kindness of his heart”.
“Every single thing that I have today – we have today – we owe to Jamal Edwards… I want to say I’m so, so, so grateful for you, brother. Jamal, I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Ed Sheeran also paid tribute to Edwards, captioning an Instagram post of them together: “I haven’t posted anything coz I can’t find the words, I can’t reply coz I don’t know what to say. Jamal is my brother. His light shone so bright. He only used it to illuminate others and never asked for anything in return.”
Sheeran attended a candlelit vigil for Edwards in his hometown of Acton, last month. The singer’s performance of ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’, is one of the most popular videos on the SB.TV YouTube channel.
Prince Charles and Camilla also paid tribute to the entrepreneur, following Edwards’ extensive work with the Princes’ Trust.
“Thinking of the family of Jamal Edwards today,” a statement from the Clarence House Twitter account read. “His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Prince’s Trust, were an inspiration to so many.”