American Black Film Festival Partners With the Art in Black Foundation to Introduce The South African Collective

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 10, 2025--

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is proud to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the Art in Black Foundation to present The South African Collective —a debut curatorial art exhibition spotlighting five dynamic visual artists from South Africa. The exhibit, open exclusively to festival attendees, will be on view during ABFF, taking place June 12–14, 2025, at the New World Center in Miami Beach. The catalog of available artwork is HERE.

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Curated by Allana Foster Finley of Cur8Africa, The South African Collective is the inaugural fine art initiative of the Art in Black Foundation—founded by Ellis Friday, a visionary young creative committed to cultural connection, with support from his parents, Nicole and Jeff Friday. This curated experience marks an evolution in ABFF’s programming, expanding the festival’s cultural offerings to include global visual art in dialogue with Black film, media, and storytelling.

The idea for this collaboration was born during an immersive art tour through South Africa led by curator Allana Foster Finley and attended by Jeff Friday. Inspired by the depth of artistic talent and cultural expression, the journey laid the foundation for what would become this inaugural showcase.

“This exhibition is an exciting step forward in ABFF’s mission to uplift global Black creatives,” said Jeff Friday, founder of ABFF. “We are proud to provide a platform where African art and cinematic storytelling can exist in conversation, inspiring deeper cultural connection.”

Featured Artists:

Steve Maphoso - A self-taught Angolan-born artist, Maphoso blends acrylic and charcoal to create emotionally resonant portraits. His current series centers on twin boys guided by ancestral intention, exploring themes of migration, ritual, and brotherhood through symbolic narrative and layered abstraction.

Thabiso Dakamela - With roots in Venda and Ndebele heritage, Dakamela’s Afrocentric work examines identity and emotion. His expressive style—often rendered in powerful blues—has earned national recognition, and his DKS Project House supports emerging artists in South Africa.

Assan Taylor - Known for textured portraits combining oil, charcoal, gold leaf, and found materials, Taylor’s work bridges tradition and innovation. His bold, multilayered pieces reflect the vibrancy of contemporary Southern African culture and human connection.

Siyabonga Mlambi - Originating from South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Mlambi’s art is deeply rooted in Nguni tradition and modern innovation. His unique style, Khanda-Art Superblur African Synthetic Cubism, employs fabric, stones, and mixed media to evoke unity, imagination, and spiritual energy.

Ayanda Moyo - A Zimbabwean artist whose work in charcoal and acrylic explores identity and culture, Moyo’s emotionally rich paintings invite deep reflection on the shared human experience through bold, expressive techniques.

Together, these artists bring their individual perspectives to a collective narrative that intersects visual art with the broader mission of ABFF—celebrating and amplifying Black stories worldwide.

About the Art in Black Foundation
Formerly the Film Life Foundation, the Art in Black Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to uplifting works that reflect the richness and diversity of the Black experience. The organization aims to bridge communities through storytelling across all artistic mediums, highlighting the humanity and creativity of people of African descent.

About the American Black Film Festival (ABFF)
Founded in 1997, the American Black Film Festival is the leading festival dedicated to showcasing film and television content by and about people of African descent. Now in its 29th year, ABFF continues to serve as a vital platform for emerging and established Black artists, attracting attendees from around the world to celebrate the power of storytelling in all its forms.

For updates, visit abff.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.

Download Artists’ HeadshotsHERE

Catalog of ArtworkHERE

American Black Film Festival Partners With the Art in Black Foundation to Introduce The South African Collective

LONDON (AP) — The British government on Monday condemned the “intimidating and thuggish behavior” of anti-immigrant demonstrators who converged on a port in southern England where migrants were brought ashore after crossing the English Channel.

Hundreds of protesters, many dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks, faced off with police in Portsmouth late Sunday in an attempt to prevent lifeboats from bringing the migrants to land. They then tried to block buses carrying the new arrivals to a processing facility for asylum seekers.

Police were investigating possible assaults of a small number of injured officers and damage to official vehicles, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

“Disorder of any kind will never be tolerated and those who cross the line from peaceful protest into illegality will face the full force of the law,” said Sarah Jones, policing minister.

The Portsmouth protest came a day after hundreds of masked anti-immigration protesters blocked roads leading to Britain’s busiest ferry port of Dover on Saturday, clogging traffic and disrupting travelers as well as cargo vehicles heading for France.

Both groups appeared to be led by Daniel Thomas, an ally of veteran far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson.

Successive U.K. governments have struggled to stop people — more than 40,000 last year — making the dangerous journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The issue has been depicted as a crisis by politicians including Nigel Farage of the hard-right party Reform UK, and has been used as a rallying point by anti-immigration activists.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government says stepped-up law enforcement cooperation between Britain and France has helped reduce the number of people making the crossing so far this year by more than 40% compared with 2025.

Farage said he supported peaceful protest but criticized the group for disguising themselves and dressing like paramilitaries.

Thomas, founder of Patriot Platform, defended the protesters for hiding their faces behind masks and balaclavas. He said the “working-class men” were not trying to intimidate anyone but don’t want to be “labeled far right.”

The boat that landed in Portsmouth had left early Sunday from Normandy, far west of the beaches near Calais where most departures have taken place — making it a much longer and riskier journey. Officials originally said that about 140 migrants were aboard the boat, but Jones told Parliament later that it carried approximately 120 people.

Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said lifeboats, a coastguard helicopter and a plane were involved in the operation to bring the migrants to shore.

Eight boats crossed the channel on Sunday and carried 625 migrants to the U.K., the Home Office said.

Police officers form a line to block protesters near Eastney Beach, in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (PA via AP)