KhemFest: Newark Forever
Joseph Watkins: Da Watcha
Ever since its inception, Khemfest has been showcasing comic books, animation, film, pop culture and the spirit of Afrofuturism; highlighting an environment of literacy, STEAM, Black creativity, and scientific awareness. From Central High School to the historic, Hahne & Co. building, it is safe to say that Naseed Gifted and company are well on their way to making Khemfest a necessary staple of Newark, NJ’s futuristic creative arts scene.
Khemfest’s evolution, however, was not without its moments. Two years ago, a lot of cons didn’t survive the pandemic and were forced to shut down. With Khemfest, they evolved and pivoted. Relocating to a greater space at the grand Livingston Mall, its safe and inviting atmosphere allowed the festival to be a success, with the company gaining new followers and fans in the process. With Khemfest’s continued success and with restrictions lowered, they returned to their NWK roots and incorporated a “Wakanda in Newark” Ball, followed by an Arts festival. As the Afrofuturistic community continues to grow, so does Khemfest as attendance numbers reached over 1000 during their last endeavor in 2022. Their roots are deep as their love for Newark led to a permanent residential spot within the Hahne building in Nwk’s famed downtown area.
Khemfest
2022
〰️
Khemfest 2022 〰️
At their 2022 comic-con, as I walked through their sacred doors of their art space, I realized that Khemfest never disappoints, EVER. They’ve created the ultimate futuristic ecosystem that merged a STEAM learning center, photography station, conference stage, and artist alley that consisted of novelists, cosplayers, glass makers, and up and coming creatives in the pop culture industry. I personally would like to give a shoutout to Vulcarmia aka Charles Date and The Amazing David. Their artwork is amazing!!! As an added bonus, the creator of the Sun-Man Action figure, Yla Eason was present discussing her action figure and fame to fans.
Creatives
~
Cosplayers
~
Authors
~
Creatives ~ Cosplayers ~ Authors ~
What made this con so spectacular was the emphasis they had on the artists. Khemfest allowed each artist, to have a “wall”, highlighting their art and designs. This showcase demonstrated how versatile their artist were and their love for pop culture. They’ve grown. The company, showcasing some of the best and brightest in the Blerd universe, is becoming one of those primary locations for Blerd pop culture on the east coast.
The spirit of Afrofuturism has landed in Newark, making KhemFest one of the premier locations for Black creativity, Black pop culture, and scientific awareness. Khemfest is an event you should definitely attend for 2023.
