Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
July 16, 2025
African Voices Celebrates Harry Belafonte & Watson Mere in NYC Exhibition
TLDR
- Attending African Voices' event offers a unique opportunity to network with influential artists and activists, enhancing one's cultural capital and professional connections.
- African Voices magazine hosts an exhibition and issue launch on July 26, 2025, featuring Watson Mere's art and honoring Harry Belafonte's legacy, with free public access.
- The event celebrates Harry Belafonte's activism and art, supporting African Voices' mission to preserve cultural institutions and promote access to education and housing.
- Discover Watson Mere's stunning portrait of Harry Belafonte and enjoy an afternoon of art, poetry, and stories at this free, vibrant cultural celebration.
Impact - Why it Matters
This event underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating the contributions of artists of color to culture and activism. It highlights the ongoing need for support for cultural institutions like African Voices, which face funding challenges but continue to provide a platform for underrepresented voices. The archiving of African Voices' collection by Spelman College ensures that the legacy of these artists and their impact on society will be accessible to future generations, making this news significant for anyone interested in the arts, social justice, and cultural heritage.
Summary
African Voices magazine is set to host a dual celebration on July 26, 2025, in New York, featuring an opening exhibition for Brooklyn artist Watson Mere and a launch for their special issue honoring the art and activism of Harry Belafonte. Mere's artwork, which graces the cover of the Summer/Fall 2025 issue, captures Belafonte's legacy with a portrait that symbolizes his enduring influence on the Black diaspora. The event, free to the public, will include readings by contributors such as Gia Anasi-Shakur and serves as a fundraiser for the magazine following its defunding by the National Endowment for the Arts. African Voices, celebrating 33 years of championing artists of color, is also being archived by Spelman College, ensuring its legacy for future generations.
The magazine's publisher, Carolyn A. Butts, highlights the timeliness of the issue, guest-edited by Keisha-Gaye Anderson, as it aligns with ongoing struggles for cultural preservation and social justice. Watson Mere, an award-winning artist, and Keisha-Gaye Anderson, a celebrated poet and educator, are among the key figures featured in this event. African Voices continues to be a vital platform for artists of color, supported by various cultural and private entities, and remains committed to its mission through initiatives like the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, African Voices Celebrates Harry Belafonte & Watson Mere in NYC Exhibition
