By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO The Go-Go Museum and Café will celebrate 50 years of go-go music at the 2026 Go-Go Awards, on Tuesday, Jan. 6. The awards will be hosted at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, historically known as the city’s ”Black Broadway.” This year’s theme, “Returning to Our Roots and Embracing the Diaspora,” promises to […]
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Black culture didn’t just show up in 2025—it shaped the year
The past 12 months have been a beautiful display on Black excellence when it comes to music, fashion, the big screen and more. Take a look at some of the top moments in this year’s arts and culture timeline.
Posted inNational News
Remembering Black leaders and icons who died in 2025
As 2025 ends, the AFRO honors the Black leaders, artists, and trailblazers who passed away this year. Their legacies shaped culture, politics and society, leaving a lasting impact on communities worldwide.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Recording Academy® Honors presented by the Black Music Collective returns, celebrating Grammy® Award-winning icons Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin
The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective will host the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors on Jan. 29, 2026, during GRAMMY® Week, celebrating the enduring impact of Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin. The event will recognize their genre-defying artistry, cultural influence and commitment to advancing Black excellence in music and beyond.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Culture and community: Marking Kwanzaa one day at a time
By AFRO Staff The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Kwanzaa website offers family-friendly activities and recipes designed to help readers engage with the purpose and meaning of each day. The guide blends cultural tradition with hands-on celebration and features dishes from “A Kwanzaa Keepsake: Celebrating the Holiday with New Traditions and Feasts,” […]
Posted inMusic
Darlene Love reflects on her enduring holiday classic, ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’
By Hillel Italie Darlene Love will never stop thinking of her holiday classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” At this time of year, she couldn’t if she tried. “The post office, grocery store, elevator,” she says with a laugh, listing a few locations where she keeps hearing the song. “It just feels funny that my […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
How many of these Black movies have you seen?
The article highlights the importance of Black representation in movies and how Black-led films have evolved over time. It features a decade-by-decade list of must-watch Black movies that celebrate Black stories, culture and history.
Posted inArts & Culture
Dance Institute of Washington’s Spirit of Kwanzaa – standing for the culture and community
The Dance Institute of Washington will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its “Spirit of Kwanzaa” production with a performance featuring the Washington area’s best young dance artists, honoring the principles of Kwanzaa and the legacy of its founder, Fabian Barnes.
Posted inBlack History
Jordan Peele’s ‘High Horse: The Black Cowboy’ doc sheds light on an erased part of history
Jordan Peele’s docuseries “High Horse: The Black Cowboy” explores the often-erased history of Black cowboys, revealing their central role in shaping the American West and challenging long-held pop culture myths. Through archival footage and contemporary voices, the series reframes cowboy culture as a shared American story rather than a narrowly defined tradition.
Posted inArts & Culture
From the streets to the stage: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ channels Alicia Keys’ roots into a Broadway triumph
Inspired by Alicia Keys’ life and music, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Hell’s Kitchen” follows 17-year-old Ali’s coming-of-age journey through family, first love and finding her voice, anchored by powerful performances and reimagined songs. Led by Jade Milan and featuring rotating turns by Ne-Yo, Tank and Christopher Jackson as Ali’s father, the musical blends raw storytelling with electrifying choreography and soul-stirring vocals.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Is Black America reckoning with the end of hip-hop’s ‘Diddy Era’?
Despite Sean Combs’ long status as a controversial public figure, the Netflix documentary “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” has struck a nerve across Black America, dominating conversations about power, violence, and abuse in hip-hop. The series is prompting broader soul-searching about the culture that enabled Combs’ rise and the limits of accountability in the music industry.
Posted inArts & Culture
HBCU Honors celebrate Black excellence
By Patricia McDougall The 3rd Annual HBCU Honors, presented by BET, brought an unforgettable celebration of culture, legacy and achievement to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts as the 2025 production taped in Washington, D.C. This year’s ceremony paid tribute to three towering figures whose influence spans generations: Pastor Shirley Caesar (Lifetime Achievement Award), […]