Blacknuss.tv presents Afro-Asia: Kiku's Legacy documentary & Yasuke

Event Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024, 3–6 PM | Venue: Colvin House Mansion, 5940 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660

Chicago, IL – Blacknuss. tv, the Chicago-based streaming platform founded by Floyd Webb, invites the public to an exclusive event to showcase its latest projects and ongoing GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign for the documentary Kiku’s Legacy. The event will occur on Sunday, December 1, 2024, from 3 to 6 PM at the historic Colvin House Mansion. This setting reflects Blacknuss.tv’s commitment to blending cultural heritage and modern storytelling.

Blacknuss.tv was founded to produce original content, curate archival and independent works, and showcase Afrofuturist films from the global Black diaspora. Accessible on web browsers, mobile devices, and  Roku. Blacknuss.tv amplifies authentic Black voices, preserves cultural heritage, and supports emerging filmmakers, fostering understanding and empowerment through impactful storytelling. By providing a dedicated platform, Blacknuss.tv addresses the lack of support and distribution for Black filmmakers, particularly independent creators who challenge traditional narratives, encouraging the growth of a more inclusive media landscape.

Highlight of the Evening: At the event, Blacknuss.tv will present the trailer for Kiku’s Legacy, a documentary currently crowdfunding on GoFundMe. Kiku’s Legacy explores the untold history of mixed-race Japanese orphans from the American Occupation of Japan, focusing on the 1959 film Kiku and Isamu. This documentary delves into the personal journeys of the film's elderly stars, Takahashi Emi and George Okunoyama, both Afro-Japanese and lifelong residents of Japan. Their experiences reveal a broader narrative of identity and cultural blending unique to their generation.

Ark Miura, a 21-year-old Afro-Japanese filmmaker confronting the complexities of her mixed heritage, is at the heart of Kiku's Legacy. Feeling disconnected from Japanese and Black American cultures, Ark begins a personal quest to understand her roots, inspired by her discovery of Kiku and Isamu at her high school graduation. The documentary will also highlight the underrecognized work of Chicago Defender journalist Ethel Payne, whose coverage of Japanese war orphans helped facilitate adoptions in Chicago.

The film is an international co-production with Tokyo-based director () and Chicago-based producers and . Ark Miura serves as associate producer on the project.

Special Presentation: Yasuke - The African SamuraiThe event will also feature trailers and samples from , a digital comic series and feature film project. Yasuke: Way of the Butterfly follows Yasuke, a 16th-century African warrior who becomes a samurai in Japan. The series traces Yasuke’s origins in the Mutapa Empire, his experiences under Malik Ambar in India, and his ultimate transformation in Japan. The title references the butterfly’s symbolism of transformation in African cultures. Released in March 2024, with Volumes 1 and 2 available in South Africa and the U.S., the comic serves as a prelude to a planned live-action Yasuke series for Netflix, expected in spring 2026.

The Yasuke creative team includes director and producer Mandla Dube, screenwriter Fidel Namisi, artist Loyiso Mkezi, and historical researcher Floyd Webb.

Attendees will enjoy refreshments and a lively discussion following the presentation, with virtual Q&A sessions featuring the production teams in Japan and South Africa.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Colvin House, 5940 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, United States