Latest news with #HouseofAfrica
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Check out these Juneteenth celebrations in and around the Charlotte area
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — This weekend kicks off Juneteenth celebrations throughout the Charlotte area and across the country. Where: 1200 block of Thomas Avenue, Charlotte When: 5-10 p.m. Friday, June 13, 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday The longest running local celebration of the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States is in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. The Festival of the Carolinas begins with its opening ceremony Friday night. It features a drum circle in front of the House of Africa on Thomas Avenue, where the festival began 28 years ago. Then there are two full days of festivities. On Saturday, the Freedom & Unity March begins at 11 a.m., and Sunday is highlighted by a church service, also at 11 a.m. The Entertainment Stage spotlights African drumming, dance, and all genres of music featuring local and regional performers. Here are other celebrations: Where: Rotary Pavilion, 107 N. South St., Gastonia When: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14 The seventh annual event is officially city-sanctioned this year. On Saturday, there will be a parade, followed by live music, vendors and food. Then on Thursday, the celebration resumes, closing with a fireworks finale. HELP Carolina partnered with the city, which is providing in-kind event support and full fireworks sponsorship to help make this community tradition possible. Where: Samuel William Davis Sr. Multipurpose Field, Hickory When: 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, June 14 The third annual festival will feature live music by Baby Black Band, kid-friendly activities, dance performances, food trucks, vendors, resources, and more. The event is sponsored by Arts Culture Catawba, Target and Legacy and Sports Development. Throughout the month of June, Catawba County agencies and organizations will commemorate Juneteenth across the county through a variety of programs and events. Veterans Park, Kannapolis Noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19 The community is invited to take advantage of this opportunity to learn, connect, and rejoice in the spirit of community and progress. This celebration provides a day full of music and entertainment, vendors offering unique crafts, inspiring speakers, and mouthwatering delights from local food trucks. Following the main festivals, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have a home game at 6 p.m. as part of the celebration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Share the culture': Local business owner shares concerns over tariff impacts
President Donald Trump announced tariff exemptions on Saturday for electronics such as laptops and smartphones as 145% tariffs take effect on goods from China. But tariffs on a wide range of goods from multiple countries are still in effect and of more importance to local business owners like Pape Ndiaye, who owns House of Africa in Charlotte. Ndiaye said many local mom and pop shops rely on imported goods from around the world. And some of the shops' owners are worried. READ: Residents living in Burke County church given 30-day deadline to secure repairs House of Africa has been open for nearly 30 years and puts on one of the largest Juneteenth events in the country. Ndiaye called with Channel 9′s Glenn Counts from Senegal. He told Counts he is worried he may have to raise prices. And many African businessmen he spoke with have similar concerns about the impacts of tariffs. He said, at the end of the day, he may have to raise prices. And he worries it may cost him customers. 'Why House of Africa is in Charlotte, North Carolina, is to share the culture and the art in the spirit of freedom and togetherness,' Ndiaye said. 'Even though it may be hard, we don't know yet. We will work with our customers.' WATCH: Residents living in Burke County church given 30-day deadline to secure repairs
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Creative mother and son share business spaces in historic Bronzeville
The historic Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago's South Side was once home to some of the most influential American artists and activists — including Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Same Cooke, Ida B. Wells, and Quincy Jones. Today, the area is seeing a resurgence in part due to fresh entrepreneurial activity, and among those involved with it are modern visionary Makafui Searcy and his mother — who have found a mutually advantageous situation for their businesses that benefits the community. "When I was 16, I put all of my ideas into a Google doc and posted it on Twitter," Searcy said, "and from there, people saw what I wanted to build and support it." Squarely in Generation Z, community has been at the center of Searcy's work from the start. He founded Fourtunehouse Art Center in 2017, and the space at 4410 S. Cottage Grove Ave. has already hosted more than 100 events. "The way I kind of see this space is an engine for ideas that I have, the ideas that my team has — but then also for people in the community," said Searcy. Makafui Searcy collaborates not only with the community, but with his mom too. "He attracts a lot of art. He respects and appreciates art, and knows what to do with it," said Sarah Kuenyefu Searcy. "Seeing that in him, and then convincing me to do this with him, I was like, OK." The creativity and drive runs in the family. Ms. Kuenyefu Searcy is a fashion designer who has owned her own business since 1999. Ms. Kuenyefu Searcy's business was originally called House of Africa — paying homage to her native Ghana. The boutique is now the Sarah Kuenyefu Collection, at 4412 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in the storefront right next to Fortunehouse Art Center. "When my mom was leaving her last location, and this space became an opportunity — I believe it was a double storefront at first," said Makafui Searcy. Makafui Searcy saw an opportunity for the two entrepreneurs — who may no longer live under the same roof — to work under one. "One of the things that I learned from my mom is just the importance of discipline, and you know, especially when like you're running a space, there are so many things that come at you, and challenges," said Makafui Searcy, "but like, being able to persevere and be disciplined through those challenges, and build the practices that your future self would be proud of." Already though, the pride is both mutual and palpable. "People know Fourtunehouse even more than me, and it's OK," said Ms. Kuenyefu Searcy, "you know, because it's more public space. It has energy, and you see young people doing positive things." And while Makafui Searcy has proven more than capable of running a community art center at just 24 years old, there are certain perks of having his mom right next door. "I raid their refrigerator," he said with a laugh. Ms. Kuenyefu Searcy said yes, her son does just this — but she was laughing about it too. "He's like the habitual sponger," she said. "He comes in and takes everything." These are small things. But it's no small thing to help an adult child turn their vision into a reality. And in doing so, Ms. Kuenyefu Searcy and her son are making some history together, too. "It's nice to start in a community like Bronzeville where there's already history, and you're building on the history," she said, "and so one day, we may become the history, 'Oh there was a mom-and-son business, next door.'"
