Six artists have been selected to receive a 2023 Baker Artist Award in a range of disciplines. Abdu Ali was selected for music, Oletha DeVane took the category for interdisciplinary arts and Elizabeth Dickinson was awarded for literary arts. Colette Krogol has been announced as the Baker Artist Awardee for performance, while Margaret Rorison won […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Posted inBUSINESS
Idris Elba launches content agency aimed at ‘fun,’ diverse marketing
By AFRO Staff Hollywood megastar Idris Elba has teamed up with Miroma Group founder Marc Boyan to launch a content creation and marketing company that aims to re-inject fun and creativity into brand-building and also “deliver authentic campaigns with cultural value.” Named SillyFace, the business aims to shake up the industry by amassing a team […]
Posted inMusic
Five albums to listen to during Black Music Month
By Michelle Richardson Black History Month isn’t the only time of the year dedicated to the culture. Along with Juneteenth, June is also Black Music Month. Black Music Month was created by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to “celebrate the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
25 Black films we’re looking forward to in 2023
by Kaiya Shunyata In the first few months of this year alone, Black films have made some significant strides. From Michael B. Jordan making his directorial debut with “Creed III” to A.V Rockwell’s tender and poignant “A Thousand and One” making noise at Sundance, 2023 is shaping to be a substantial year for Black cinema. […]
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
2023 BET Awards highlight African-American music and culture during Black Music Month
By AFRO Staff The 2023 BET Awards took place in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 25. The star- studded affair included appearances by hip-hop legends such as The Sugarhill Gang and Big Daddy Kane. Latto performed, along with Coco Jones and Master P, who wowed the audience with his performance honoring hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. “I […]
Posted inBooks
Granddaughter calls her picture book a ‘love letter’ to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The 15-year-old granddaughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is collaborating on a picture book tribute to the late civil rights leader and his wife, Coretta Scott King. Yolanda Renee King’s “We Dream a World,” with illustrations by award-winning artist Nicole Tadgell, will be published by […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ahead of the BET Awards, a look back at how the network helped hip-hop grow and thrive
By Jonathan Landrum Jr., AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Rap City.” “106 & Park.” “Uncut.” From innovative to provocative, BET has played a crucial role in creating several influential programs that helped spread hip-hop to millions of homes across the globe. Other than its rival “Yo! MTV Raps,” the network known as Black […]
Posted inBooks
Author Felicia Harkley encourages Black girls and boys to aspire without limits with ‘Brown Boy,’ ‘Brown Girl’ books
By Reginald Williams, Special to the AFRO Brown boy, Brown boy what do you see? I see a zoologist looking at me. I see all the careers I can be. For many youth, the seeds of success are often planted through literature. From children’s books to comics– imagining the possibilities of life is a habit […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Disney’s The Lion King characters serenade Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library patrons this Saturday
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor Your favorite characters from Disney’s The Lion King are coming to the D.C. Public Library this Saturday! Join all the characters you and your children love from the inspiring North American tour of the hit Broadway musical The Lion King as you join the D.C. Public Library to kick off […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Dance and Bmore: uniting families through the arts
By Tawanda W. Johnson, Special to the AFRO While some parents are struggling to connect with the young people in their homes, others have figured out the cheat code of using the arts to improve the parent-child relationship. For Lisa Tinch, of Reisterstown, Md., connecting with her daughter, Autumn, meant joining Dance and Bmore, an […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Black music, businesses and culture shine at Baltimore’s 46th AFRAM Festival
By Stephanie Harper, Special to the AFRO The 46th annual AFRAM Festival that took place in Baltimore over Juneteenth weekend was a great success. The event opened up with the inaugural Baltimore Club Music Day, which took place on June 17, and was followed by a second day of exciting, innovative activities and entertainment. Over […]
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Juneteenth: a celebration of Black music and culture
By Dandrea V. James As a future ancestor, I encourage young folks to consider what Juneteenth means to them. To me, Juneteenth means critical thinking, collective destiny and veneration of the spirit of solidarity. Since June is also Black Music Month, this is also a good time to reflect on socially conscious music. Juneteenth honors […]