logo
AfroFuture cultural showcase to make U.S. debut in Detroit

AfroFuture cultural showcase to make U.S. debut in Detroit

CBS News04-02-2025

(CBS DETROIT) - AfroFuture, an international celebration of African and African diaspora music and culture, has scheduled a 2025 showcase in Detroit.
The event, Aug 16 and 17 at Bedrock's Douglass Site, corner of Alfred Street and Beaubien Boulevard, will be the festival's debut in the United States. Previous events include those in Ghana.
"AfroFuture Detroit isn't just about music (though, trust us, the beats will be fire). It's a full immersive experience. A fusion of music, food, fashion and art," the announcement said. "It's where Afrobeats, Amapiano, Motown and Techno collide to create a one-of-a-kind experience that'll keep you vibing long after it's over."
Plans include a marketplace showcasing African and diasporic talent; and an artist lineup to be announced.
The Detroit event is presented by Bedrock and produced by Paxahau.
Ticket selections will start at $99.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Amapiano stars TxC makes BET history as the DJ duo claims major US award
Amapiano stars TxC makes BET history as the DJ duo claims major US award

News24

time3 hours ago

  • News24

Amapiano stars TxC makes BET history as the DJ duo claims major US award

South African amapiano duo TxC are the first DJ duo to win Best New International Act at the 2025 BET Awards. The award shared with Brazil's Ajuliacosta continues SA's strong presence at the long-standing awards ceremony following Makhadzi's 2024 win. Industry leaders highlight African music's growing global influence and commercial potential. South African amapiano duo TxC made history at the 2025 BET Awards, becoming the first DJ duo ever to be recognised in the Best New International Act category, jointly winning with Brazilian newcomer Ajuliacosta. Tarryn Reid and Clairise Hefke – collectively known as TxC – accepted their award at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marking another milestone for South African music on the global stage. The win cements amapiano's growing international influence and follows South African singer Makhadzi's victory in the 2024 ceremony in the Viewer's Choice: Best New International Act category. The Best New International Act category featured impressive South African representation, with Dlala Thukzin and Maglera Doe Boy also receiving nominations alongside artists from Nigeria, the UK, Tanzania, France, and Brazil. Prior to departing for Los Angeles, TxC was honoured with a send-off celebration at which industry leaders praised their groundbreaking achievement. READ | SA's Tyla, Maglera Doe Boy and Dlala Thukzin strike a chord with 2025 BET nods Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager at Paramount Africa and BET Lead, sees TxC's success as part of a larger movement of African musical excellence gaining global recognition. 'For me, it's about culture and storytelling. If you look at the continent, Africa has great talent. Music and the drumbeat are our anchor, rhythm, and vibe,' said Twala. We are the new frontier – it's Africa's time to shine on the global stage. Our music is from an Afrobeats perspective and an amapiano perspective. Hip hop did it, too – the AKAs have won international awards, and the Casspers have been nominated in the past. Twala highlighted a growing list of African artists making international waves, including Diamond Platnumz, Tiwa Savage, and many others, creating unprecedented opportunities for emerging talent. When asked about African music's global significance, Twala drew focus to the continent's cultural richness as its unique selling point. 'What African culture brings is gold right now. We are magic, but I think it comes from our diversity. If you look at how broad this continent is, all the countries and their vastness, and the dynamics in terms of tribes and languages, we are so dynamic, colourful, and exciting. That's the edge we bring to the world,' he explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BET Africa (@bet_africa) Reflecting on South Africa's growing BET Awards presence, he noted past successes from artists like Black Coffee, Babes Wodumo, AKA Nasty C, and Tyla's recent triumph. 'It's beautiful to see amazing talent male, female, young, old – being able to represent the continent,' he said. Young people today must focus on how they can build their brands beyond borders, collaborate with artists across the continent, create business in music outside South Africa, and earn in dollars. He highlighted strategic brand development for artists seeking international success as a key goal up-and-comers should strive for. 'It's about being well-packaged. Always think about how you can package your brand as an artist. Have the right people around you,' he advised. 'It's about exploring new markets. If you're popular in Jozi, think about how to be popular in Lagos and then build your brand in Kenya, New York, and London. Today, we have social media and the internet, making African content and artists accessible worldwide. You have to take advantage of new media. ' News24 reached out to the BET award winners, who were unavailable for comment owing to the time difference and booked public engagements in Los Angeles.

Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd's Reaction is Priceless
Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd's Reaction is Priceless

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd's Reaction is Priceless

Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd's Reaction is Priceless originally appeared on PetHelpful. Animals are as fun-loving as toddlers! They love the wonder of the world they live in, and they never cease to amaze those around them, including their fellow animal friends! Elephants are particularly expressive at times and it's easy to know what they are thinking. Recently, Mushuru the 4-year-old African elephant was released into the Voi reintegration unit along with two fellow nursery unit graduates. The elders of the herd welcomed the young elephants and made it clear that they were willing to share their new home. Mushuru wasted zero time making herself at home and decided that a dip in the pool was the first thing on her to-do list! There is just one problem with her plan! There is not a pool! It's a water trough and despite there being a mud bathing pit directly adjacent to the trough, she opted for a quick break from the heat in the clean drinking water tank instead! The young elephant dove right in, headfirst, and continued to flop around in the cool water while her herd-mates stood around in shock and confusion! We have all had that, 'what are you doing' reaction to animal antics but, it's truly funnier when other animals have those same reactions to their friends! One follower suggested, 'She was showboating to her new friends' and we couldn't agree more! Related: Graduation Day for Young Elephants Brings Happy Tears and Hope for Their Future The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has rescued many elephants just like Mushuru and the work that they do to reintegrate the orphaned animals back out into the wild is heartwarming to see. One viewer said, 'What a joyful moment for Mushuru! So amazing to see her embracing her new life in the wild. Great progress!' Although she is not officially out in the wild, she has begun the multi-year process, and we are lucky enough to have an amazing bird's eye view! Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd's Reaction is Priceless first appeared on PetHelpful on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.

Middle Tennessee's missing zebra: Owner talks escape, why the animal may get a new home
Middle Tennessee's missing zebra: Owner talks escape, why the animal may get a new home

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Middle Tennessee's missing zebra: Owner talks escape, why the animal may get a new home

It was dream that turned into a nightmare and ended with a big sigh of relief for Taylor Ford after his pet zebra escaped from his 115-acre Christiana farm, went missing for eight days and was finally captured on June 8. The zebra, which his wife, Laura, had named Zeke, was supposed to be a pet for the Fords for years to come, Taylor Ford said. Instead, he told The Tennessean June 9 that his wife had gotten a bad feeling about the new addition just before it arrived. "She didn't think that him coming home was the best idea. And it turns out, she was more right than ever," Taylor Ford said. Though he does some farming, Taylor Ford, 36, owns a landscape lighting business. His fascination with the African equine and its black stripes began about two years ago when he said he saw two live zebras at the end of the driveway at a Nashville property. That's when he knew he had to have one, he said. But the zebra escaped less than 15 hours after it reached the Ford family's Rutherford County estate. The couple bought Zeke on May 30. He came from Texas. While Taylor Ford declined to say how much he paid for the animal, he said they can cost about the same as horses. In some cases, anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. And they can live for up to 25 years. The zebra was meant to be the ultimate showpiece for the Ford family, taking its place among the family's alpacas, bison, cattle and other farm animals. But, after its time spent on the loose in Middle Tennessee, the zebra's name has changed and his future is uncertain, Taylor Ford said. The father of three admitted June 9 that he doesn't have social media accounts, but his family kept him updated on Zeke's celebrity status. In honor of the social media buzz he generated, Zeke's name has been changed to Ed, and Ed's future may not lie with the Ford family. The escape and subsequent chase has made Taylor Ford question if the family can safely keep Ed on the farm. They're not even sure how he was able to escape, Taylor Ford said, noting that for now, the zebra is being housed in a more secure location. His dream is for a zoo to adopt Ed so people can visit him. That wasn't Taylor Ford's initial goal when he bought his dream animal. "It's really just the wow factor," Taylor Ford said, explaining why he bought the zebra. "When my kids have friends come over and we go back ... and we've got zebras or something else cool they're not used to seeing, it's just a really cool animal. "(But) I don't want to worry about about this escape ever happening again, and it being something that I'm part of and having to disrupt the community. I'm hoping he becomes a symbol of something that brings people together for this community." During Ed's 8-day Middle Tennessee sojourn, Fredricksburg, Texas-based Tango 82 Aviation led the search and recovery effort, a spokesperson for the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said. A call seeking comment for this story was not immediately returned by Tango 82 Aviation. Rutherford County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lisa Marchesoni told The Tennessean the zebra was finally spotted in a pasture near the Buchanan Road exit off I-24. Search and rescue teams honed in, with a veterinarian on hand to assist. "They (Tango 82 Aviation) used a net capture method that they use to capture these animals in Texas and basically dropped a net right over top of it," Taylor Ford told The Tennessean June 9. Marchesoni said no additional costs were absorbed by the sheriff's office as the local agency. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency joined the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office on the scene of Zeke's rescue for traffic safety. As Taylor Ford watched video of the zebra dangling from the net attached to a helicopter, he said he felt relieved. Every call he got for eight days put Taylor Ford on edge wondering if the zebra was alive or if someone had gotten hurt trying to approach it. "It was the biggest sense of relief for not only the animal, but our family and also the community. I've got children, and I know everybody seemed to have fun with this and everybody loved it. But at the same time, one of my concerns the whole time was safety." While Zeke was running loose, he ascended to celebrity status in the region with people creating cakes, songs and memes in his honor. The zebra caught the attention of local baker Lauren Jones, who created a 12-inch zebra cake to honor "Ed." Taylor Ford said "Ed" came from former National Football League referee Ed Hochuli, who was known for his muscular body. And of course, a black and white-striped referee uniform. More: Escaped Rutherford zebra being tracked via drone; officials warn public to 'stay clear' And Zeke was fast. Pictures and video flooded the internet as the zebra was seen running along Interstate 24 and flashing across area doorbell cameras. Zeke became the inspiration for a song called "Ed the Zebra" by Michael Marcovich using Suno, an AI generated software. Facebook user Diamond Shine professed her devotion to the zebra as he ran through Middle Tennessee. "Somehow, this rogue zebra galloping through Murfreesboro has brought me more joy in the last 24 hours than I ever expected," she said in a June 1 post. "The chaos. The memes. The chase. Ed." In addition to AI-generated photos of a zebra with a Middle Tennessee State University fan at a bar, zebras became the primary spokespeople for local businesses, recommending a spray tan at Serenity Skin and authorizing 15% off sale of all items at Love's Pizza in Murfreesboro. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@ and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet the owner behind escaped Tennessee zebra turned social media star

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store