By Grace Kpetemey and Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO The first day of the historic AFRAM festival in Baltimore concluded on Saturday with a performance from Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo delivered an electric performance to shrieking fans that sang every lyric, evoking 2000s nostalgia with tunes like “Miss Independent.” He also […]
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inAfro Briefs
Happy Father’s Day!
By Sharon Williams Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers. Fathers, you play a very important role in children’s lives. You should be a role model, provider, protector, inspiration, and motivation. Your children should feel loved by you. Children need attention, their own personal attention. They need to feel special. They need guidance and a […]
Posted inMusic
Lupe Fiasco, 6lack highlight Apple Music Juneteenth playlist
By Jonathan Landrum Jr., AP Entertainment Writer Several artists including Bun B, Lupe Fiasco, 6LACK and Brittney Spencer have recorded songs honoring Juneteenth for Apple Music. Performers from different genres composed new tracks, while others recorded cover songs for the second annual “Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs” playlist, which launched June 10 on the streaming platform. […]
Posted inTV and Film
Film review: Hustle
By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Film Critic When comic actor Adam Sandler took on the challenging role of a diamond dealer in the gritty riveting film Uncut Gems, he crossed a chasm. It was as if he’d put his past behind him and was determined to become a multifaceted actor. Hustle proves that point. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Myles Frost and Phylicia Rashad Bring Tony Awards to the DMV
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor HBCU’s in the DMV had their best night on Broadway Sunday as Myles Frost and Phylicia Rashad captured Tony Awards Sunday for their performances on Broadway this year. Bowie State University Senior Myles Frost received the Tony Award for best leading actor in a musical Sunday, for his role […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Baltimore prepares for AFRAM festival
By AFRO Staff The AFRAM festival will return to Baltimore on Juneteenth this year. This year’s AFRAM will be the 45th year the festival has been in existence. For two days Druid Hill Park will be the scene of Charm City’s biggest celebration of African American culture. “I am incredibly excited to be welcoming residents […]
Posted inArts & Culture
SOWEBO Art and Music Festival 2022
By AFRO Staff The SOWEBO Art and Music Festival once again returned to Baltimore on May 29th, with a mix of interesting offerings for all ages. SOWEBO, which stands for South West Baltimore, is an annual festival that brings music, vendors, food and residents together for a day of fun. Black businesses and artists were […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Black-owned Célébrez en Rosé festival returns to D.C. and travels to Chicago for the first time
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com It’s time to break out your finest pink and white attire because the premier Black-owned festival for wines, champagne and lifestyle, Célébrez en Rosé, is returning to Washington, D.C. this June. This year marks the festival’s third anniversary in Washington, D.C., which will […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Sidney DuPont finds a ‘powerful, dynamic and necessary’ role
By Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press Sidney DuPont knew he’d made the right career decision when a musical theater icon, Chita Rivera, not only threw a shoe at him but also slapped his face. It was in 2019 at a workshop on the Broadway musical “Paradise Square,” where DuPont and A.J. Shively were performing an […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Blood Sisters: why the mini series on Netflix sets a new pace for Nollywood
by Ezinne Ezepue, University of Nigeria via New Pittsburgh Courier Nollywood – the Nigerian movie industry – was described as a small screen cinema involving amateurs who produced low budget trashy videos with predictable storylines. But in the intervening decade it’s been transformed into a multi-million dollar industry with rising international interest. For my PhD I interrogated this transformation as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
General Assembly passes legislation to increase funding for Commission on African American History and Culture
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern History was made recently when the Maryland General Assembly passed two bills that will delegate or increase funding to the Commission on African American History and Culture and the African American Heritage Preservation Grant Fund. “As the Chair of this historic commission, I am truly honored to be at […]
Posted inWord In Black
#WordinBlack: Coppin Academy students display creative
By Kara Thompson, AFRO MDDC Intern In a special partnership with AFRO Charities and Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, students of Coppin Academy have been exploring the rich history of Black Baltimore and the influence of African Americans on multiple genres of art. The program recently closed out their semester with the Student Fellowship Showcase, […]