Check out various activations from Google, Fox Searchlight, FX, OWN and iOne Digital in New Orleans last weekend

Boss ladies from the Women’s Entrepreneurial Panel at The Chicory in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Google made a big splash over the weekend with three signature events all hosted at The Chicory: a Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon (135th CEO Shante Bacon served as one of the speakers), a “Big Easy” Business Mixer hosted by radio personality Angela Yee, and a Black Women’s Leadership Dinner which featured an appearance by Chance the Rapper and a performance from Solange’s new neo-soul group “Ladies of King.“

Guests quickly filled the room for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon

Angela Yee welcomes the audience and later flicks it up with Mona Scott-Young and Shante Bacon at the Big Easy Business Mixer

Shante Bacon with Google staff after the mixer

(left)The setup at the Black Women’s Leadership Dinner was absolutely beautiful! (right) After dinner, guests got a chilling virtual reality experience of what it’s like to be a black man in America

Tamika D. Mallory, Symone Sanders, Nilka Thomas,

Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Gia Peppers,

Demetria Lucas D’Oyley, Shante Bacon and Janaye Ingram all SLAYED at Google’s Black Women’s Leadership Dinner

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Click to check out the Lethal Ladies Of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women commanding the stage at the 2017 Essence Festival in New Orleans

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9n9wi9w7o4nnlmk/20170630_142358.mp4?dl=0

Fox Searchlight’s new documentary STEP was also on the scene at the Essence Festival. The

Lethal Ladies of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women were on hand for a “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet reception at the Le Meridien Hotel. Press and influencers such as April Reign (Creator of #OscarsSoWhite Hashtag), Henry Hicks (President-National Museum Of African American Music), Janaye Ingram (Women’s March/AirBNB Diversity Officer), and Lolita Toney (Executive Director-National Museum Of African American Music) were in attendance.

Additionally, the STEP cast participated in the Walmart Community Parade, performed a step exhibition on the main stage at the convention center, conducted a post-screening Q&A with radio and tv personality Bevy Smith and capped off the weekend with a flash mob performance at “Salon Conversations” presented by Michaela Angela Davis and My Black Is Beautiful.

Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger and Tayla Solomon pictured with ABC Radio’s Candace Williams (left) and the #OscarsSoWhite originator April Reign (right)

The ladies of STEP are all smiles at the “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet

Geri “Coach G” McIntyre, STEP Director Amanda Lipitz, Paula Dofat, Tayla Solomon, Blessin Giraldo share thoughts on the power of sisterhood at the 2017 My Black Is Beautiful Experience at the Essence Music Festival

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Dennis White, Angel Love, John Singleton, Angel Saunders and Wild Wayne at the Theatres at Canal Place in New Orleans

FX Networks previewed their new drama series “Snowfall” for an intimate group of press and influencers on Saturday. Co-creator John Singleton made brief remarks; Q93 radio host Wild Wayne intro’d the screening.

Angel Love (left) and Angel Saunders (right) are “Tank’s Angels”

Wild Wayne and John Singleton kick off the screening to a full house

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Nicholas L. Ashe, Tina Lifford, Bianca Lawson, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Ethan Hutchison,

Rutina Wesley, Dondre Whitfield, Omar Dorsey and Timon Durrett of “Queen Sugar” arrive in the press room at Essence Festival 2017 in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2017

During Essence weekend, OWN brought the casts of “The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Queen Sugar” and “Greenleaf” to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center to interact with fans, screen clips, participate in interviews and discuss their respective shows on the main stage.

(left)Tyler Lepley, Angela Robinson and Gavin Houston during their Center Stage moment on Friday, June 30 with

“OWN Tonight!” host Stacey Ike; (right) Cast members spend some time with their supporters immediately after

Timon Durrett, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Dondre Whitfield, Rutina Wesley and Omar Dorsey seen backstage before DuVernay was honored at the Woke Women Awards on Saturday, July 1

“Greenleaf” cast members Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Deborah Riley Draper on Sunday, July 2

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Malcolm Lee, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kofi Siriboe and Will Packer arrive at the private screening of “Girls Trip” in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Photos can be viewed/downloaded here: http://bit.ly/2tx1QPm

(Photo credit: J. Wiggins)

On Friday, iOne Digital and HelloBeautiful.com in partnership with NISSAN presented a private screening of the new film Girls Trip at The Theatres At Canal Place.

The cast attended including Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate and Kofi Siroboe. Directors Malcolm Lee and Will Packer introduced the film. Hello Beautiful editors Allison McGevna, Shamika Sanders and Keyaira Kelly were also on hand to welcome guests.

(left) Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah; (right) Kofi Siriboe, Issa Rae and Larenz Tate

Hello Beautiful editors Keyaira Kelly, Allison McGevna and Shamika Sanders (left); “STAR” cast Ryan Destiny, Jude Demorest, Brittany O’Grady and Miss Lawrence (right)

Big Freedia and Karen Civil

Yandy Smith-Harris and Mona Scott-Young

Recording Artists Tank and Letoya Luckett

Recording artist Elle Varner and Celebrity Stylist Ty Hunter

We Speak Events

Uniting Christian Creatives: The Inaugural CLEAN Festival Comes to Accra This December

Published

23 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Amplify Ghana

This December, Accra will host the inaugural CLEAN Festival, a groundbreaking event celebrating the intersection of Christian faith, African culture, and the arts. Scheduled from December 20th to 28th, the festival aims to bring together Christian creatives from across West Africa, the diaspora, and beyond. Through various artistic expressions, attendees will explore their faith while fostering a deeper connection to their heritage.

The vision for the CLEAN Festival is encapsulated in the phrase “Christ’s Creatives Chilling.” It offers a space for creatives to meet, network, and fellowship in a relaxed atmosphere. The initiative also addresses pressing cultural and spiritual trends, particularly among younger generations of African heritage, who are increasingly reconnecting with their traditional roots. While this renewed interest in heritage is enriching, it has sometimes led to religious pluralism or syncretism—a blending of indigenous practices with Christianity. Additionally, there is a misconception that the arts are incompatible with Christianity or African identity, with some even labeling Christianity as “the White Man’s religion.” CLEAN seeks to challenge these narratives by creating a space where attendees can explore the synergy between African culture and Christian faith. The festival also highlights the rich history of Christianity in Africa, demonstrating its deep-rooted presence on the continent.

The festival’s mission includes building a community of Christian creatives, engaging in meaningful conversations about art and Christianity, exploring the relationship between Christianity and African traditions, and showcasing diverse art forms such as fashion, literature, and film. These objectives are woven into the festival’s lineup of key events.

The festival kicks off on December 20th with “Christ and Canvases” at Ten25, a hands-on artistic expression day where participants can enjoy food and painting with a stunning view of the skies. On December 27th, “The Brunch” at Nouveau Accra offers an opportunity to eat, network, and connect with creatives and others interested in art and Christianity. The festival culminates on December 28th with the “Expo” at Jambo, an exhibition and networking event showcasing diverse art forms, including fashion, literature, and film. The Expo will also feature panel discussions and interactive opportunities for attendees to engage with the themes of the festival.

CLEAN will delve into key themes such as Christianity’s presence in public spaces versus its representation in visual arts, addressing why Christian influence is prominent in West African society but less visible in the visual arts. The festival will also foster discussions on integrating African culture and Christian faith without compromising core Christian principles. Additionally, it will explore the historical relationship between Christianity and creativity, drawing inspiration from Western contexts and encouraging a similar narrative for African artists.

CLEAN invites artists, creatives, and anyone interested in exploring the intersection of faith and culture to join this unique movement. For more information and updates, visit the official website.

For inquiries, contact Kweku Bimpong at [email protected] or 0551429835. Stay connected with CLEAN on social media: Instagram, X (@projectcleangh), Facebook (@CleanGH), and LinkedIn.