WAKANDA BALL 2026

We cordially Invite you to join KHEM FEST for the ultimate Afrofuturism experience as we bring Wakanda to Newark:

WAKANDA BALL 2026 Powered by Express Newark

KHEM FEST and Black Star Creative Collective (BSCC)will host our WAKANDA BALL 2026 on Febraury 14th, 2026, from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm EST at Express Newark in Newark, NJ. All proceeds will go towards both the KHEM FEST S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) initiatives and the KAFF Animation Film Scholarship Fund. These funding opportunities aid KHEM FEST in awarding scholarships, fund S.T.E.A.M. student-centered programming, and help with needs-based requests impacting minority students attending KHEM FEST.

Tickets cover admittance, entertainment, food, and Wakanda punch. 21+ and up Valid ID required.

We invite you to wear your formal Dashiki/Kitenge garment or your formal after five wear as the Royal guest of your Kingdom (futuristic fiction) as we celebrate in the make-believe land of Wakanda in Newark.

Tickets/Outfits available at:

This event is open to the public, with all nationalities, ethnic groups, and sexual orientations welcomed.

Visit the event website for more information and details.

www.khemfest.com

All a part of 12th Annual Khem Fest taking place September 2026.

Khem Fest is a convention, festival, and celebration. Our goal of the event is to use comic books, animation, films, and popular culture to develop youth literacy and expression through S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). Hence, we created a festival that will feature and promote creators of comics, animation, books, film, and other media with a focus on people of color; culture, concepts, and interests. Our festival is for everyone and a diverse networking event for professionals as well as enthusiasts to aspire, inspire and appreciate people of color contributions as it relates to Popular Arts media. KHEM FEST is not limited to comics. Our events highlight other literary genres like speculative fiction, as well as video games, collectible toys and models, films/documentaries, and all other media related to the Popular Arts.

KHEM FEST will also provide relevant, engaging, informative entertainment and professional networking opportunities for the Newark community. Among the attractions provided are interactive activities which include; Animation Film Festival, Marketplace, Comic Book workshops, Panel Discussions, Screenings, and STEAM Lab. Our organization works with its community partners to promote awareness of the competition and the many activities taking place to serve as a bridge to bring the community together.

For more information go to http://khemfest.com

Info: Each stride down the violet pathway transforms royalty into revolution - where ancestral regalia meets interstellar innovation in a living tapestry of Black Excellence, weaving individual brilliance into Wakanda's eternal legacy. Powered by Gefface Photo Booth

Info: Let the first strike awaken ancient frequencies: our opening drum innovation summons ancestral spirits and quantum rhythms, synchronizing heartbeats to starship engines. This primal codex in sound connects past, present, and liberated futures through the universal language of the drum.

Info: Live Music by Sharonda Allen

Info: Channel ancestral wisdom and cosmic visions at the Source of Knowledge Silent Auction, where African Masks, prints, and wood sculptures transcend time. Bid to own pieces that bridge ancient spirituality and Afrofuturist innovation, supporting a legacy where every artifact holds a universe of stories. Powered by Source of Knowledge - 867 Broad St. Newark, NJ

Info: Savor flavors where ancestral recipes meet interstellar innovation at an AfroFuturist culinary journey. Break bread under constellations of possibility, as each dish harmonizes heritage grains, futurist spices, and the shared dream of Black Liberation.

Info: Witness the vanguard of style where African heritage ignites interstellar innovation on the runway. This showcase celebrates the boundless imagination of Black Designers and visionaries, manifesting liberated tomorrows through breathtaking Afrofuturist design philosophy. Powered by Ancient African Formula -109 Halsey St. Newark, NJ

Info: Step into the spotlight and showcase your boldest Afrofuturist vision at the Khem Fest-sponsored Best Dressed Contest! Win legendary status by blending ancestral elegance with Wakandan innovation in your ensemble, honoring the legacy while defining its dazzling future.

Info: This convergence of visionaries manifests our ancestral dreams into a living blueprint -where every smile, gaze, and garment vibrates with the unstoppable Black future we're co-creating. Powered by Gefface Photo Booth

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Express Newark, 54 Halsey St., Newark, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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