#okayAfrica

[imsovoguesblog]

Beni- born, two time Oscar- Nominated Actor Djimon Hounsou for Okay Africa Fall 2024 Digital Cover Story- shot by Marquis Perkins

[smudgemark]

Djimon Hounsou for the Fall 2024 digital issue of 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢. Photography by Marquis Perkins.

[irungu]

Master weavers. Kitui County, Kenya. Africa. 

[trascapades]

🇧🇯#ArtIsAWeapon

**swoon** @djimon_hounsou #BeenFine, since I first saw him in @janetjackson 's "Love Will Never Do Without You" video until now! That face! These photos! Them fashions!!!

Images/caption reposted from @okayafrica

Benin-born, two-time Oscar-nominated actor #DjimonHounsou has spent three decades making a name for himself as a steadfast star. Though Hollywood hasn’t always rewarded him for his immense talent, he’s using his career’s currency for something far more meaningful than accolades and acclaim...

Rather than focusing on what Hollywood hasn’t provided him, Djimon Hounsou directs his energy towards what he can offer the world — through the Djimon Hounsou Foundation.

He established the organization to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, and to help Africans in the diaspora reconnect with their cultural, ancestral, and spiritual roots. “The aftermath of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a loss of knowledge,” he explains. “If you don’t know where you come from, you don’t know where you are.”

Read more in OkayAfrica’s digital cover story - out now.

Photographer: @marquisperkins

Writer: @nadianeo

Lighting tech: @jpierrebonnet

Stylist:@tiffanistyles for This Represents

Market editor: @coralreefin

Fashion team: Elizabeth Fonseca, Myles Colbert, Will Lewis

Groomer: @brittywhitfield

#BlackBeauty #AfricanMen #BlackFashion #AfricanActor

[isthespiceoflife]

[storiesandstars]

[thenoticeblog]

Getting Tattoos w/ French Cuban Duo Ibeyi

November 2017 | New York, NY | Short Documentary | Editing Under the needle at a Brooklyn tattoo parlor, French-Cuban duo Ibeyi tells the story behind each song on their new album "Ash.”

[biglisbonnews]

Afro Nation Portugal was the Celebration of the Summer It’s a music lover’s dream – a three-day music festival set on the luscious beaches of Portimao, Portugal featuring the hottest African artists. A fairytale of 20 something’s came to life last weekend at the 2023 Afro Nation music festival. The roster of talent included megastars Burna Boy, WizKid, Arya Starr, Aya Nakamura, 50 Cent and Davido. This year, featured a new stage dedicated specifically to the sounds of Amapiano artists and fans with vigorous energy deemed the “Piano People Stage.” For any appetite across the landscape of African music, guests could have their musical palate satiated with each set, deep bass thump and swoon of the beautiful voices of African crooners. Photo Credit: ritasxs for Afro Nation. Day One: A bumpy start, an explosive end The festival began with a magical performance by Portuguese-Cape Verdean artist Soraia Ramos, who set the stage ablaze donned in shimmering purple while delivering sweet-sounding Portuguese lyrics met with crowd-pleasing participation. Soraia was later joined by soulful Cape Verdean singer Lisandro Cuxi and the duo set the temperature for the third installment of Afro Nation Portugal – filled with enormous talent and even bigger fandom. As the momentum rose, fans were soon met with silence on the Main Stage as the technical team worked to troubleshoot sound issues that were likely compounded by the blazing temperatures creating a sweltering environment – including the hottest temperatures of the three-day festival. As the schedule lagged, interludes and artist introductions faded and Golden Circle ticket holders — whose access boasted front-row views to the Main Stage, a private VIP bar and bathrooms and limited food options — were sent elsewhere to explore while tech issues and artist setups took place. Photo Credit: ritasxs for Afro Nation.Many guests carried their excitement to the Piano People stage, which provided nonstop vibes throughout the festival surrounded by a variety of food options from some of Portugal’s favorites. And – if you opted for the VIP experience – you could trudge through the deep, white sand to get lined up in the Afro Cuts booth or dolled up in the Afro Spa. The entire venue, which spanned the length of Praia da Rocha beach, was designed to keep festivalgoers drinking, dancing, and feasting. Later in the day, Nigerian singer Nissi, took audiences to new heights with new single “Higher.” With this performance, she stepped out of the shadow of her superstar brother Burna Boy. Shortly after, Ayra Starr came out and performed her deeply personal single “Toxic” and hit singles like “Bloody Samaritan” and “People.” And the the main show came. With no introduction needed, Burna Boy appeared leaving fans clamoring to grab the closest spot near the stage. The crowd rocked to his newest single, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” followed by Dave’s “Location,” “Last Last” and a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Ye.” It’s impossible to truly appreciate an artist as massive as Burna Boy without seeing him perform live. His smooth voice and commanding posture held audiences captive. Day 2: Wizkid dominates The second day began with the same fanfare without delays and “as many” technical issues. Artists Caminoh and The Compozers, who didn’t make their expected performance from Day One, were added to the lineup. Ms. Banks kicked off the day with her edgy style reminiscent of American artist Meg Thee Stallion followed by Victony, who stopped several times mid-performance to complain about ill-performing microphones and even made a full stop to chastise organizers for providing faulty equipment and for not allowing artists to do a sound check. The show proceeded with Ghanaian artist Black Sherif reenergizing the crowd, performing hits including “Second Sermon.” Nigerian star Asake brought a renewed vigor as he hyped up the crowd with an ambitious, attempted crowd surf that created a viral moment for the fest but left fans bewildered and concerned for the artist. As the Main Stage heated up, the Piano People Stage continued the never-ending party when singer and dancing sensation Tyla took the party to a new level. A noticeably different vibe from the contained Main Stage — DJ Charisse C, Sir Trill, Moonchild Sanelly and many more kept the temperature elevated and bodies moving nonstop. Photo Credit: ritasxs for Afro Nation.Wizkid concluded the day by taking his time to deliver hit after hit, including “Ginger,” “Essence,” and Drake’s “One Dance.” He began center-stage on a massive platform and came closer to the audience with each song, which was met with uncontainable excitement. As things heated up, “Big Wiz” tossed his jacket into the crowd and briefly stopped his performance to convince a male fan to give the jacket to the ladies as intended. Moments later the show was again interrupted by an overzealous fan who Wiz had to instruct to climb down from the camera tower with the threat of concluding the show early. Day 3: The grand finale The next day, festivalgoers slowly filled the beach to party through the conclusion of Afro Nation Portugal. The Main Stage was buzzing shortly after the gates opened with Rotterdam, The Netherlands’s artist “Mr. Magic” Nelson Freitas. Next, the Kenyan band Sauti Sol brought their eccentric, vibrant fashion and smooth sounds which set the vibes nicely for South East London singer/songwriter Gabzy who left the audience smitten. Next, when French singer Vegedream began performing his resounding voice could be heard throughout the festival. One by one, festivalgoers were drawn to the Main Stage where they remained for Nigerian Afropop singer Fireboy DML and his intoxicating tracks “Peru,” “Vibration,” and “Sere.” Shortly after, French artist Booba shifted the mood with a bottle of Hennessy, auto-tune and relentless swag – getting the crowd ready for global entertainment icon 50 Cent to take over the show. Photo Credit: ritasxs for Afro Nation. With much anticipation, crowds lingered near the Main Stage until hearing the blaring voice of none other than Tony Yayo introducing the “Candy Shop” rapper. As he performed hit after hit, 50 stopped several times to admire the Afro Nation crowd. With thousands of 20-somethings rocking to early 2000s classics, 50 had a moment of clarity. He was now admittedly an “old school” artist. Despite his declaration, the crowd was thrilled to rock with the legendary artist and encouraged him to continue to dig into the crates to celebrate his impact on Hip Hop. As his performance concluded, fans swarmed to the Piano People Stage to catch South African DJ Uncle Waffles ahead of the festival’s concluding headliner Davido. As Davido joined the fest for the final performance, it wasn’t lost on him or fans what transpired in these iconic three days. His smooth, inspiring set concluded a festival so important to the artists-providing a global platform to amplify their music and to once again cement the position Afrobeats and its variations have in the music industry. The unique power of African artists to galvanize music lovers from across the diaspora – from more than 120 countries in the case of Afro Nation – substantiates this fast-growing genre as a powerful force. For festivalgoers – Afro Nation delivered a cultural experience devoid of division based on nationality or language with the sole purpose of unifying people from across the African diaspora through one common interest – the universal appeal of African music. https://www.okayafrica.com/afro-nation-portugal-recap/

[sinnamonscouture]

Elsa Majimbo covers the summer digital issue of OkayAfrica

[continentcreative]

Djimon Hounsou for OkayAfrica by Marquis Perkins

[mybeingthere]

Nedia Were, Kenyan, b. 1989

Nedia Were is a self-taught visual artist who was born and raised in Kenya. His initial passion for art was cultivated during childhood, when he started drawing characters he observed in cartoons, comic books, and newspapers. As a teenager, Were continued to pursue art as a signwriter, developing his own style. Inspired by his grandfather’s love of reading newspapers, Were’s painting is attuned to events and topics reported in the news.

"Were grew up entrenched in Western beauty standards in '90s Kenya. As a creative consequence, the artist delves into questions surrounding identity, but also the canons of art education surrounding color theory. Gazing upon Were’s body of work, Mumwamu, which means “dark series” in his native language, it becomes apparent that the colors black and blue invoke an intentional move to embrace his community in his work, so that they feel seen and part of the conversation. His works are emotive, and as he tells OkayAfrica, they communicate that, “We are products of love, but things change along the way.”

[labutansa]

via okayafrica

Preemptive measure due to tags: I am a pro-trans woman blog, transmisogynists kill yourselves ✌🏽

[brooklynmuseum]

Only two weeks ‘til Africa Fashion! 

Soon, you’ll be able to see for yourself the multidimensional facets of fashion, creativity, and culture on display in this exhibition which features work by mid-twentieth-century designers as well as works by a new generation of designers, collectives, and fashion photographers working in Africa today.

Share in the celebration of opening weekend with Reni Folawiyo, Kehinde Wiley, and Lola Ogunnaike who will lead us through a conversation on Africa’s Influence during Brooklyn Talks on June 22 at 7 pm. Attendees will have after-hours access to the exhibition.

Get your tickets to #AfricaFashionBkM and #BkMTalks:

🎟 https://bit.ly/3Chk6hZ

Africa Fashion is created by the V&A—touring the world. The lead sponsor is Bank of America with major support provided by ALÁRA. Special thanks to OkayAfrica / Okayplayer and Nataal, media sponsors for this exhibition.

Our presentation is organized by Ernestine White-Mifetu, Sills Foundation Curator of African Art, and Annissa Malvoisin, Bard Graduate Center / Brooklyn Museum Postdoctoral Fellow in the Arts of Africa, with Catherine Futter, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture, and Rhea Stark, Curatorial Assistant, Arts of Africa, Asia, and the Islamic World, Brooklyn Museum.

[newleasemusic]

Isco Cruz shares genre-bending EP 'Heartbreak's Paradox'

Isco Cruz shares genre-bending EP 'Heartbreak's Paradox'

Rising artist ISCO CRUZ charges up his recent project ‘IC Flows: Before Heartbreak’ with a new EP titled ‘Heartbreak’s Paradox’. This new EP features five additional tracks, expanding on the emotional and narrative journey that began with ‘IC Flows: Before Heartbreak’. The release includes ‘Double Standards,’ which received support on OkayAfrica and landed on several Spotify Editorial playlists,…

[afrotumble]

7 Directors Share Their Best Tips for Aspiring Filmmakers - OkayAfrica

[monriatitans]

The image was made in Canva; check it out at the [referral] link here!

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Check out what arrived from ETAN COMICS! Hawi, "Award nominated graphic novel inspired by Ethiopian history & Queen Yodit Gudit. 120+ pages. Hardcover. Made by an all-African team!" Below is what is written on the back of the graphic novel:

"Historical fantasy set in modern-day Ethiopia and draws from the country's rich past!" -BBC

"Of all the Black Indy titles I read, I wouldn't be surprised if Hawi is the one we see one day on the screen." -BLACK GIRL NERDS

"Hawi has become a beloved work of art not just for Ethipians but Africans across the continent and the diaspora." -OKAYAFRICA

Hawi is an award nominated African mythology graphic novel inspired by Ethiopian history and the legendary warrior queen, Yodit Gudit. Made by an all-African creative team and as seen on BBC, Black Girl Nerds, ComicsBeat, OkayAfrica and more. After the heartbreaking loss of her father, Emnet and her mom leave Ethiopia. But before long, a masked mercenary lures them back. He kidnaps her mother, dragging her to a dangerous & magical realm filled with mythical beasts, powerful shamans, and ruthless sovereigns. Now stranded in the Axumite Empire, Emnet must figure out how to save her mom and go home, all while unraveling family secrets and facing a sinister force that threatens both worlds.

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For anyone interested, the graphic novel is available for preorder here!

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Check out other Kickstarters I backed here! Like what you see and wanna know when there's more? Click here to Subscribe for updates and/or hit the Follow button! Enjoy what I do? Please consider supporting via Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC)! For more about me, click here! My videos are available on Twitch, YouTube, The Titans' Discord, Steam, Rumble, and Odysee!

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To provide educational material for game designers and artists, and some fun reads, I created a bookshop, powered by Bookshop.org, the Rendezvous Point (RP)! Check it out here!

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Originally published to https://opinionsandtruth.wordpress.com on December 11, 2024.