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New York, USA & Lagos, Nigeria — September 2025 — SBB Media will unveil Her Story Global , its flagship publishing and storytelling platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of African women, with an intimate brunch and readings event in New York during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week (23–29 September 2025). The 80th session of the UN General Assembly opens on 9 September, with this milestone year marking the UN’s 80th anniversary under the them

The UN may host world leaders, but the real buzz this week is creativity, culture, and African innovation lighting up the city. At UNGA80, world leaders are making headlines, sure, but something even more exciting is happening just beneath the surface. Black creatives, African innovators, and cultural changemakers are taking center stage, showing the world that storytelling, art, and culture are forms of leadership all on their own. From dazzling galas and film screenings to

Africa is hitting the global music stage like never before, and Nairobi is at the heart of it. With the inaugural African Grammy Awards coming to the city, Kenya is set to make history and put the continent’s music on the world map. For decades, African music has set the global rhythm, with genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, and Highlife captivating audiences everywhere. Now, the Grammys are coming home, and Kenya will be the first to roll out the red carpet. Presi

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) returns for its 16th edition, scheduled to take place from October 9 to 12, 2025, in San Jose, California. After a milestone 15th anniversary in 2024 that honored legends like Souleymane Cissé and brought together 85 films from 38 countries, this year’s festival promises to push the celebration of African voices even further. With 92 films from 32 countries, the lineup reflects the diversity, resilience, and creativity of Afric

Image - (Late) Kobe Bryant’s Page When a network pulls the plug, even temporarily, it forces us to ask: who holds the megaphone? Who defines the boundaries of acceptable speech? And what have we lost when someone so central to late-night is silenced, however briefly? The End of an Era? When ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September 2025, the news landed like a cultural earthquake. For over two decades, Kimmel wasn’t just a late-night host—he was a voice. Sometimes messy,

ML Premiere | Photo Credits: Adebare Adedoyin Maas Concepts Photography Toronto, Canada - September 11, 2025: Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde made history this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, where her directorial debut, Mother’s Love , screened as part of the official Industry Market program. The screening took place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at TIFF Lightbox Cinema 5, during the festival’s landmark 50th anniversary celebrations. At the red car

Clutch Points Hollywood could be heading for its next big earthquake. Reports say Paramount Global is preparing to bid for Warner Bros. Discovery , a move that would bring two legendary studios under one roof. If this goes through, it’s not just business, it’s history. Imagine Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and the DC superheroes living side by side with Top Gun, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek. That’s a dream lineup strong enough to challenge Disney and Netflix in the

Aaron Pierre.Credit : Mike Marsland/WireImage Aaron Pierre , 31, just gave fans a plot twist no one saw coming, and it wasn’t from a movie script. The British actor, best known for his powerful performances in The Underground Railroad and as Mufasa: The Lion King, revealed that he’s officially in dad mode. On September 4, Pierre quietly dropped the news on Instagram with a simple but moving black-and-white photo: his hand pressed against a much smaller one. The caption? Ju

Try a taste of African Food In LA —perfect for your next production Los Angeles may be home to the stars, but behind the scenes—and in kitchens across the city—another kind of magic is cooking. As the film and TV industry continues to embrace diversity both on and off-screen, a new generation of Black and West African chefs are carving their names into LA’s culinary scene. Whether they're serving spicy suya at a music video wrap party, creating intricate pastries for celebrit

It’s here! Starting today, August 29th, through the 31st, Ankara Festival LA 2025 opens its doors, serving up three days of African fashion, music, and culture you won’t want to miss. Founded in 2010 by Peter Lentini , Founder and Creative Director. Their mission is to promote African cultural excellence by increasing visibility of African culture through fashion, arts, music, dance, and food. What started as a showcase of Ankara fashion has blossomed into a three-day fiest

Afrobeat Bootcamp LA 2025 | Image: Black Film Wire Hollywood, August 2022, 2025- I spent the afternoon in what felt like a bowl of talent — a building that spoke music everywhere you looked. Tucked away in a quaint Hollywood corner, Noise Nest Studios transformed into the heartbeat of a movement, and a cultural laboratory: the inaugural Afrobeat Boot Camp LA , curated by Nigerian hitmaker Cheekychizzy . Sahndra Fon Dufe, Editor-in-Chief, Black Film Wire at Afrobeat Bootcamp

A Look inside the Chivido and Otedola white weddings. Africa’s Richest Man, Dangote, as VIP at both events #Chivido25 | #MrEaziwedding A Tale of Ice and Fire- Same Weekend, Different Vibes What do two of Africa’s biggest stars have in common this week? Their happily ever afters were a study in contrasts. One chose a quiet, breathtaking backdrop for a select few, while the other threw a monumental bash for the world to see. Yet both were equally magical in their own right, rem

Just a day after unveiling its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-5, OpenAI responded to user feedback by reintroducing an earlier version, GPT-4o, due to requests from users who appreciated the previous model's tone. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI , announced that GPT-4o will now be available as an option for paid subscribers. Additionally, Altman stated that GPT-5 has been enhanced to perform more effectively, addressing early concerns about its handling of basic s

There’s something about August. Maybe it’s the fiery Leo energy, the fresh back-to-school buzz, or the last golden glow of summer, but it’s also the birth month of some of the most iconic Black celebrities of our time. From music legends to cultural disruptors and historic leaders, these stars don’t just celebrate their birthdays. They’ve shaped history, challenged stereotypes, and inspired millions. In honour of this vibrant month, we’re spotlighting 10 influential Black fi

The third annual Pan African Film Festival series in Austin lights up the weekend with powerful Black stories and vibrant community engagement. The energy at the Austin Film Society Cinema is magnetic as PAFF Austin 2025 unfolds. Now in its third edition, this dynamic collaboration between the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) and Austin Film Society (AFS) has once again transformed Texas into a hub for global Black storytelling. The series, which runs from July 31 to A

Credit: Black Film Wire There are few constants in life: jollof wars, late Nigerian weddings, and Van Vicker being every auntie's eternal heartthrob. As the beloved Ghanaian actor celebrates his upcoming birthday on August 1st, fans across the continent and beyond are gearing up to shower him with love—and a few marriage proposals, naturally. Whether you first spotted him in Beyoncé: The President's Daughter or swooned over his signature smolder in countless Nollywood-Ghallyw

July 25, 2025, marks a historic moment — the first-ever International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent , officially recognized by the United Nations. It’s a global celebration of the strength, resilience, creativity, and brilliance of Black women and girls across continents and cultures. This day isn’t just about recognition — it’s about amplification. It’s about giving flowers to those who have long deserved them and reminding the world that women and girls of Afri

Getty Grief and disbelief ripple across screens worldwide: beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has passed away at 54 from an accidental...

TAMBAY OBENSON African film journalist and strategist Tambay A. Obenson presented on The Future of Film Festivals at the 2025 Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), in a special session held as part of the DIFF Film Festival Residency. The event, curated by Andrea Voges (DIFF) and Fibby Kioria (Mucii Pictures), brings together African programmers, curators, and cultural workers for a weeklong program of case studies, workshops, and critical discussions on how film festi

As the curtain falls on the first half of 2025, one thing is certain: this year has already delivered pivotal shifts across global cinema from the sound stages of Hollywood to the vibrant streets of Lagos. Driven by new technologies, bold storytelling, and evolving audience expectations, Black filmmakers, creators, and the broader African film ecosystem are shaping new narratives and rewriting the rules. Here are 7 standout moments that defined the global film industry in the