The House of Afros. Capes & Curls Presents AfroCon 2022
October 7th-8th 2022
About Our Event
AfroCon is a community building event that includes curated conversations about the issues and themes that impact Black lives and Black Futures; consumerism and economic development of the black dollar; nerd culture and vehicles for k-12 educational achievement. It is an opportunity to support an ethnically diverse range of independent artists and businesses with an emphasis on organizations led by people of color. Most importantly AfroCon is a safe space for the celebration of nerd culture and black culture.
Click the links below to get involved!
Our Mission
The House of Afros, Capes & Curls is an organization whose goal is to connect people from diverse backgrounds and build a community based on a shared love of science fiction, fantasy, gaming, and Afrofuturism, while providing a safe space to explore the artistic literary and historic merits of geek culture.
Non Discrimination Policy: The House of Afros, Capes & Curls does not discriminate based on race, color, ethicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities.
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Featured Guests
Justina Ireland
Bestselling author, professor, and activistJustina Ireland is a New York Times Bestselling author, professor, and activist for elevating marginalized voices. Ireland’s numerous works span the galaxy from the Star Wars universe with titles such as Lando’s Luck all the way to the end of the Civil War with Dread Nation. Her new book, Deathless Divide continues the story of and former editor-in-chief of the FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction
Nerd Soul
HIP HOP + NERD + SOULNERDSoul is that intangible fresh--that 70's soul mixed with comics, some sci-fi fantasy, movie geekery, topped off with the Golden Era of Hip Hop. I've developed NERDSoul over the years as a StreetGEEK, unknowingly by loving Wu-Tang, Justice League, Star Wars, Stevie Wonder and playing D&D after school. NERDSoul comes from that StreetGEEK that can chop it up with the best, while being up on games around the block and Pop Culture.
Event Speakers
Alex Bridgman
PresenterHey! I’m Alex Bridgman and it’s a pleasure to present at this year's Afro-Con! I’m 30 years old and I’ve been drawing since I was 10. My Blerd life started with ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ and I’ve been deep in it ever since! I’ve produced storyboards, created comics, written original stories, and acted in a few as well. I hope we can all learn from each other and share these pro tips - and all things Blerdy!!!
Carla Stillwell
Founder and Executive Director of the Stillwell Institute for Contemporary Black ArtThe Institute’s mission is to recruit, develop, and support contemporary Black artists and teach art making in the Black community as a healing practice, a vehicle for social change, and a viable career opportunity. Ms. Stillwell began her directorial career with the late night stage production of the popular 70s sitcom Good Times. She went on to direct Addae Moons critically acclaimed work She Calls up the Sun (2008), Kevin Douglas No Experience Necessary, Keith Josef Adkins The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (2010) and is currently directing Paul Notices Leaves, Trees, Forest opening January (2013).
Jamillah Hinson
Independent Curator and Arts ProgrammerJamillah Hinson is a Chicago based independent curator and arts programmer focused on exploring the works and concepts derived from the rich diversity found throughout the African diaspora. Hinson’s work often delves into the everyday life of Black people across various cultures and ethnicities, examining and glamorizing often erased components of Blackness in the Americas and the Caribbean. Currently, Hinson’s practice has evolved to encompass the mythical and spiritual practices of Blackness, which are often intertwined with the everyday.
Marcus Ross
Founder, Operations Manager, Lead Game Designer, Waterbear GamesMarcus has a background in computer programming, but his true passion is for board games. His interest began as a child obsessed with Monopoly and ballooned from there, expanding his collection to a wide range of games including German style board games. 99% of the time, if you see a tweet from @waterbeargames or @discountsalmon, it’s Marcus. He is responsible for most of the promotions, operating the business side of Water Bear Games, and getting their games into stores, as well as brainstorming ideas for new games with his vast knowledge of all things tabletop. https://waterbeargames.com/
Noni Williams
Mathematician & WriterNoni is a mathematician and a writer. She finds her passion in solving problems and helping others understand that they are capable of solving problems too. She feels the most free when she is outside with the sun on her skin or contextualizing the universe for herself through math and art.
Our Family Plays Games
PresentersMik, Starla and their son Grant are Our Family Plays Games. They are dedicated to sharing their love and inspiring diversity and inclusion in the world of board games. They are contributors for the Dice Tower, on Boardgame Breakfast and were recently interviewed on their passion for board gaming by Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, The African American Network TV and NBC News. They now share their love of boardgaming at Our Family Plays Games YouTube channel.
Zöe Charlton
Associate Professor, Department of Art, American UniversityZöe Charlton, who works from studios in both D.C. and Baltimore, has served on the faculty of The American University art department for 16 years, including as chair. She received her MFA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and BFA in painting and drawing from Florida State University.
After Party Lineup
Mesonjixx
Performing ArtistMesonjixx is an artist who currently resides in Omaha. Her father is Black American born and raised in the Alabama Ozarks and her mother is a South Pasifika Islander from Honolulu, Hawaii. Mesonjixx is the middle child of five. While living in Chicago (2009-2014) she honed her songwriting and musical style. She’s since returned to Nebraska to find balance in her interconnected nature of her identities as a woman, as one who belongs to two diasporas of two hemispheres, and as a young black midwesterner who finds the plains of America her home. Mesonjixx creates music to find her unique center. Soon after her performance debut in 2015, Mesonjixx has not only become a fixture of the Nebraska music scene, but has risen to the top of artists in the Midwest. Both as a solo artist and as a leader of a trio and quartet, which has drawn the most talented musicians of Nebraska. Her current trio, with keyboardist Nate Asad and percussionist John Evans -- was selected to open for Kamasi Washington’s recent performance in Omaha, and was a returning festival favorite at this year’s True/False Independent Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri. She describes the music as: Afro-futuristic Experimental Subculture Soul.
Conrad Clifton
Performing ArtistConrad Clifton is an Omaha native, Brooklyn based electronic artist, and Infinity Pool Recordings’ label founder. He blends electronic music and hip-hop together in unique and daring ways, that tell a tale through each tune. With over 2 Million streams on Spotify, Conrad has received editorial playlist placements on Dance Rising, Electronic Circus, Bass Arcade, Friday Cratediggers and more. Winner of the Independent Music Award for BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC EP, Conrad was called "one of the most exciting electronic artists to watch" by EARMILK. His forthcoming album GET YOUR WHOLE LIFE, taps into a vibe that’s perfect for fans of KAYTRANADA, Tom Misch, GoldLink, Yaeji and Black Coffee. For the first single “Neva Seen (A Broken Heart)”, Conrad goes back to his roots with a soulful house bop. His early material was all sample-based rap beats (flashback to Yelawolf’s “Down”), but now he’s serving tunes that help dance away the gloomies. If ever there was a ‘happy’ breakup song, this is it. You sense the longing in every string pluck, but no one can ignore the feelgood energy of the perfect soul clap.
Mesonjixx
Performing ArtistMesonjixx is an artist who currently resides in Omaha. Her father is Black American born and raised in the Alabama Ozarks and her mother is a South Pasifika Islander from Honolulu, Hawaii. Mesonjixx is the middle child of five. While living in Chicago (2009-2014) she honed her songwriting and musical style. She’s since returned to Nebraska to find balance in her interconnected nature of her identities as a woman, as one who belongs to two diasporas of two hemispheres, and as a young black midwesterner who finds the plains of America her home. Mesonjixx creates music to find her unique center. Soon after her performance debut in 2015, Mesonjixx has not only become a fixture of the Nebraska music scene, but has risen to the top of artists in the Midwest. Both as a solo artist and as a leader of a trio and quartet, which has drawn the most talented musicians of Nebraska. Her current trio, with keyboardist Nate Asad and percussionist John Evans -- was selected to open for Kamasi Washington’s recent performance in Omaha, and was a returning festival favorite at this year’s True/False Independent Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri. She describes the music as: Afro-futuristic Experimental Subculture Soul.
Upcoming Events
- AfroCon 2022 – In person!
- Steampunk Tea Party – June 18th 2022
- Black to the Future Ball – November 2022
General Admission
$
10
- For solo admission
General Admission Household
$
15
- For those joining as a group
Generous Admission
$
20
- General admission plus donation
*a ticket rate that shows you care about the art--and then some