Khem Fest

10/16/2026

10/04/2026

The level of engagement for our Khem Fest STEAM Lab is unreal. Inspiring the next generation of creators, innovators and story tellers. Led by Sharonda Allen and Suliman Onque.

10/04/2026

Still buzzing from the energy of this past weekend.

Reflecting on the 12th Annual Khem Fest, my heart is full. When we first started this journey, the vision was simple yet vital: create a dedicated space where our community, creativity, culture, and STEM could intersect without limits. Seeing that vision thrive year after year—and reach new heights this weekend—is deeply humbling.

This festival’s success belongs entirely to the village that built it:

To our Guests and Attendees: Thank you for showing up with such incredible energy, curiosity, and love. Seeing families, students, and creators walking the floor inspired and engaged is the reason we do this work.

To our Volunteers and Staff: You are the true heartbeat and backbone of Khem Fest. Your tireless dedication behind the scenes, your early mornings, and your problem-solving made every moment run smoothly.

To our Creators, Panelists, and Vendors: Thank you for sharing your brilliant work, authentic stories, and artistry. You prove every day that our narratives and our genius deserve center stage.

To our Sponsors and Partners: Your belief in this mission translates into real opportunities for our community. Thank you for investing in our youth, our creators, and the future of diverse storytelling and technology.

Khem Fest is more than an event—it’s a movement powered by community. Thank you for building with us, dreaming with us, and making our 12th year unforgettable.

Until next time, keep creating, keep innovating, and keep inspiring. Express Newark Keary Rosen Black Star Creative Collective PBS STEAM J.Rosa Abenaavi "Jojo" Wright Sharonda Allen City of Newark, NJ - City Hall

With deep gratitude,
Naseed Gifted Naseed Gifted
Founder, Khem Fest
CommunityFirst RepresentationMatters

09/25/2026

From the moment Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA scored Afro Samurai to the Spider-Verse films turning Brooklyn into a living, breathing comic book, hip hop and animation have been sampling each other for decades. This panel explores how that relationship has shaped both art forms — and where it’s headed next.

Long before anime became a global mainstream obsession, hip hop artists were its most visible ambassadors. RZA was carrying VHS tapes of Akira around New York in the late ‘80s while building Wu-Tang Clan’s mythology. Shinichirō Watanabe’s Samurai Champloo borrowed hip hop’s sampling logic — taking an old genre (Japanese historical drama) and remixing it into something new and edgy. And a generation of Black animators, showrunners, and studio founders are now building on that foundation, creating work that fuses hip hop aesthetics with animation in ways that go far beyond soundtrack choices.

This panel brings together voices from across the hip hop and animation spectrum to discuss the past, present, and future of this cultural fusion — and why it matters for the next generation of creators.
Peace Moore
ThaGataNegrra 黒猫
Tai Mair

Only at the 12th annual “Khem Fest” - the ultimate celebration of black animation, gaming, and comic book creators in downtown Newark, NJ! 🎮📚

🎟️ Grab your passes now—link in bio!

09/25/2026

Do You Support AI in Art?

Let’s Have a Discussion: Creative Arts in AI: Ethical Tools for the Next Generation

As A.I. reshapes animation, gaming, comics, and design, how do we protect Black & Brown creativity, ownership, and authenticity?

This is an open dialogue for artists, technologists, students and communities to debate the ethics, explore the tools, and define how we use A.I. as a tool for liberation... not exploitation.

Join the Conversation
with Abenaavi "Jojo"
Inuk Gavilanez
• Open Panel & Community Q&A
• All Voices are Welcome

Sept. 26, 2026 11 am - 7pm
Express Newark
54 Halsey Street 2nd fl.
Newark NJ 07102