Abel Tesfaye a.k.a. The Weeknd is making a move on the fashion industry with a new gig as Puma’s Global Brand ambassador and creative collaborator.
The Grammy-winning musician is set to release a sneaker and clothing collection with the sportswear giant. The line is being tipped as “a fusion of PUMA’s sport-inspired designs and The Weeknd’s street-motivated aesthetics,” and will launch commercially in 2017 under the name Puma x XO.
It is in many ways a natural progression of the R&B singer’s relationship with the brand, following his starring role in its latest Sportstyle campaign, ‘Run The Streets’, which will launch this November and in which he sports the IGNITE evoKNIT and IGNITE Limitless footwear as well as Evo Apparel pieces.
In joining the label, The Weeknd has become the latest in a long line of high-profile stars to inject their own brand of streetwear cool into the sportswear classic.
His latest track “Starboy,” which featured Daft Punk, broke the record for ‘Most Release Weekend Streams Ever’.
Addis Fine Art @ 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London
Addis Fine Art, which opened its doors January 2016, will be debuting at 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair – which opened this week at London’s Somerset House.
Individual prices at last year’s fair reached almost USD 70,000. When 1:54, named after the 54 countries that make up the African continent, launched four years ago, it did so to just one wing of the 16th century house.
Today, the art fair takes over the entire building, a testament to the show’s increasing popularity.
“We wanted to tap into the wider market so that our artists can get recognition and be commercially successful,” its co-director Rakeb Sile said.
Amongst its five Ethiopian-born artists exhibiting, is Michael Tsegaye. The artist’s chasms of the Soul series looks at cemeteries that have been bulldozed over to make way for luxury buildings.
“He looks at how a lot of things that we used to know, they’ve been stripped away, with these new generalized cities emerging,” Rakeb said.
Ethiopian culture showcase @ World of Montgomery Festival in DC Area
Ethiopian culture will be showcased at the World of Montgomery Festival, which is held each year in October to celebrate the rich diversity of the DC Area through international music, food, dance, culturally authentic arts demos and hands-on activities.
The 8th annual family-friendly event will inspire multicultural appreciation and understanding by spotlighting the cultures of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and India, which are the four largest immigrant populations in Montgomery County. All four nations have established Sisters City relationships with the County.
The two performance stages will spotlight dancers and musicians from across the world, including an Ethiopian drumming and dance group, Indian dancers performing a harvest celebration, and an El Salvadoran marching band.
The centerpiece of the day is the Parade of Cultures led by the feet pounding rhythms of traditional African drummers, Latin American dancers, and Asian performers in native dress who encircled the festival grounds.
Montgomery County has become a majority minority community and one of the most culturally diverse in the United States.
Lij Michael @ MTV Africa Music Awards
Ethiopian hip-hop sensation Lij Michael has been nominated for the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards, which is scheduled for October 22, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa
The hip-hop star is nominated in the ‘Listener’s Choice’ category on the same shortlist as Yamoto Band (Tanzania), Burna Boy (Nigeria), Adiouza (Senegal), Kansoul (Kenya), Prince Kaybee (South Africa), Zaho (Algeria), Kiss Daniel (Nigeria), E.L (Ghana), Bebe Cool (Uganda), Latifa (Tunisia), Saad Lamjarred (Morocco), Tamer Hosny (Egypt), Jay Rox (Zambia), The Dogg (Namibia), Sidiki Diabate (Mali), Adiouza (Senegal), Den G (Liberia), Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe), and Messias Maroca (Mozambique).
The ceremony will be hosted by South African comedy legend and host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah.
Previous hosts of the MTV Africa Music Awards have included Wyclef Jean, Eve, Marlon Wayans, Anthony Anderson and Trevor Nelson.
The MTV Africa Music Awards was established in 2008 by MTV Networks Africa (now Viacom International Media Networks Africa) to celebrate the most popular contemporary music in Africa.