African Voices has launched "Harvest," a new podcast series debuting this Black History Month that spotlights conversations with established and emerging artists shaping contemporary culture. The limited series features notable filmmakers, writers, museum curators, and creative visionaries across three initial episodes. The inaugural season opens with Samantha Knowles, an award-winning filmmaker and recent recipient of the Reel Sisters Trailblazer Award 2025. Knowles is currently receiving widespread acclaim for her powerful new film Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, which examines one of America's most devastating natural disasters and its lasting impact. She also directed Harlem Ice (Disney+), a 2026 Emmy-nominated documentary series.
Episode two features Amy Andrieux, Executive Director of the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), who shares insights from her latest exhibition featuring artist Esteban Whiteside. The show, titled "Beyond Rage," tackles social and political issues through a style reminiscent of Basquiat, exploring themes of racism, social justice, and community dialogue. Andrieux discusses MoCADA's evolution since its 1999 founding and the museum's ongoing mission to support Black artists and communities. Gregory Gates, founder of Eucalyptus Entertainment, rounds out the initial episodes by discussing his journey from spoken word contestant at the Apollo Theater to establishing a national poetry slam at the legendary Harlem venue.
Gates has collaborated with music icons including Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Stevie Wonder, and has produced major concerts, television shows, and films at prestigious venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Barclays Center, and the Prudential Center. "I chose to name the podcast Harvest because it symbolizes the process of most cultural work; a sometimes long and evolving process that in the end yields beauty and abundance," says Carolyn Butts, Founder of African Voices. Butts established African Voices 34 years ago with a vision to amplify diverse creative voices and celebrate cultural contributions across the African diaspora.
The podcast series represents African Voices' continued commitment to fostering cultural understanding through art, literature and film. The organization has earned national respect among the literary community for publishing excellent fiction, poetry and artwork, with Spelman College archiving their art collection for future generations. Harvest will air on Spotify and the African Voices YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@africanvoicesmagazine. This launch during Black History Month provides timely recognition of Black cultural contributions while creating accessible platforms for important artistic conversations that might otherwise remain within niche circles.
The series matters because it documents and preserves contemporary Black artistic expression at a time when cultural institutions face increasing challenges. By featuring established figures like Gates alongside emerging voices, the podcast creates intergenerational dialogue that helps contextualize current artistic movements within broader historical traditions. The inclusion of museum professionals like Andrieux connects artistic creation with institutional support systems, highlighting how cultural infrastructure develops alongside creative output. For audiences, this provides rare behind-the-scenes access to artistic processes and institutional decision-making that shapes which stories get told and how they're presented.
Harvest's timing during Black History Month amplifies its cultural significance, positioning contemporary artistic conversations within historical context while demonstrating how Black creativity continues evolving across disciplines. The podcast's focus on "long and evolving processes" acknowledges that cultural impact often develops gradually rather than through sudden breakthroughs, offering a nuanced perspective on artistic careers and cultural movements. By making these conversations available through mainstream platforms like Spotify and https://www.youtube.com/@africanvoicesmagazine, African Voices extends its 34-year mission of amplification beyond print media into digital spaces where new audiences can engage with important cultural discussions.
