ARTIST’S STATEMENT
“This portrait of Harry Belafonte honors him in his regality, while capturing the depth, compassion and intensity of his unmistakable gaze. The stars surrounding him symbolize his presence in the ancestral realm, ever-watchful and guiding, just as he did in life. His pose is balanced with a quiet tenderness, reflecting his lifelong commitment to the care and upliftment of the Black diaspora. The piece celebrates not just the man, but the legacy and light he continues to cast over us.” — Watson Mere
African Voices – Harry Belafonte Tribute Issue 2025
$10.00 USD (includes shipping & handling costs)
Special issue honoring the art and activism of Harry Belafonte guest edited by poet/author/artist Keisha-Gaye Anderson. Front Cover Artist: Watson Mere. Our Summer/Fall 2025 issue debuts July 26, 2025. Reserve your copy now! If you wish to purchase more than 5 copies, contact us at 212-865-2982.
LINEAGE | Celebrating A Legacy of Love, Family & Activism
RSVP for Art Exhibit & Issue Launch Celebration!
On Sat., July 26, 2025 from 3 pm-5 pm, African Voices magazine will host an opening exhibition for Brooklyn artist Watson Mere and a launch celebration for our special issue honoring the art and activism of Harry Belafonte! Watson’s art graces the front cover of our Summer/Fall 2025 issue! Award-winning poet/author Keisha-Gaye Anderson is our guest editor. Donations are Welcomed!
Enjoy an afternoon of art, poetry and celebration! Contributors from the issue will share their poems and stories! The event will be held at the AV Gallery, 325 Lafayette Ave. (corner of Grand Ave.) in Brooklyn.
ARTIST BIO
Watson Mere is an award-winning visual and performance artist who has been exhibiting his work for the past eight years. Mere’s work has been shown in galleries, museums and venues, which include the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY; Venice Art Gallery, Venice, Italy; The Oculus at the World Trade Center, New York, NY; Gracie Mansion Conservatory, New York, NY; Norman Rea Gallery, York, United Kingdom, and The Africa Center, Harlem, New York. He has earned various awards including the 2024 Artist in Residence for the Haiti Cultural Exchange, the 2022 Elizabeth Foundation For The Arts Studio Program, a 2023 recipient of the Frederieke Sanders Taylor StudioProjects Fund, and the 2018 Citation of Honor (Arts) from the District Attorney of Kings County. Mere and his work has been featured in publications and television networks such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue Magazine, Hyperallergic, Esquire Magazine, Artsy, NPR, News 12 New York, Philly Magazine, Broadway World, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Colossal, GlobeNewswire, Nylon, C- Suite Quarterly, and more.
