Essence Fest: celebration or corporatised rebrand? The Aunties chat with Deja Zhané to debate whether the festival still centers Black American heritageWhat we cover From the claim that local vendors & creators are overlooked to reports of influencers flown in from the UK/Toronto, we dig into leadership decisions, rising costs, and how to honour Black American culture without stoking diaspora wars. We also talk solutions: prioritising local talent, transparent curation, and building spaces for both Black American heritage and wider Pan African connection.00:00:00 – Why we invited Deja: Essence Fest backlash & context set-up. 00:03:00 – Deja’s viral video: “Essence no longer feels like us” (heritage vs corporates). 00:07:00 – Leaving comments open & being unapologetically Black—Deja’s stance on discourse. 00:10:30 – Does leadership still center BA heritage? The Caroline Wanga debate. 00:11:30 – Are locals being skipped? NOLA vendors/creators & who gets invited. 00:26:00 – Price hikes, paid lounges & why it now feels “curated” not community. 00:28:00 – Kensington Grey, UK & Toronto influencers at Essence—fair or foul? 00:40:00 – “Global Blackness” vs BA identity: inclusion without erasure. 01:10:00 – Can we keep BA culture at the core and invite the diaspora? (Pan-African approach). 01:54:00 – Big-picture wrap: colonialism, reparations, and shared struggle across the diaspora. 01:56:00 – Deja’s next steps: nostalgia, BA beauty focus & creating for overlooked girls.🔗 Follow us on social media:📸 Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/yourauntiescouldnever/📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourauntiescouldnever🌍 Website : https://www.yourauntiescouldnever.com/

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00:03:00 Couple Caught on Camera at Coldplay ConcertA couple was caught on camera at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts, with their cuddling suggesting they might be having an affair, and the incident has gone viral 00:22:35 Diane Abbott's Comments on RacismDiane Abbott, the first black woman MP in the UK, was suspended and then reinstated after writing a letter to The Observer about racism, which some critics felt suggested that anti-Semitism experienced by the Jewish community was different from the racism she suffered as a black person 01:04:30 Benin Bronzes and the British MuseumThe British Museum refuses to return the looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria, citing legal restrictions under the British Museum Act of 1963 The British Culture Minister, Oliver Dowden, suggests that the Benin bronzes should remain in the British Museum, but is open to sharing them with Nigeria, rather than returning ownership01:24:56 Cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen ColbertCBS has announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, citing financial reasons, despite the show being the top-rated show in its time slot The cancellation comes amid a merger with a Trump-linked media company, and critics point to potential political pressure, with some arguing that the move is a form of censorship 01:35:12 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump's ConnectionsDonald Trump is facing libel action against Rupert Murdoch, the Wall Street Journal, and two reporters, after denying a letter and calling it a scam, and has also asked his attorney general to release documents from the Epstein court filings A woman named Katie Johnson alleges that Donald Trump raped her when she was 13 years old at one of Jeffrey Epstein's parties, and she has given a deposition about the incident02:16:57 Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner's AbuseThe conversation also mentions Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Mansion, discussing how the Playboy brand was normalized and influential in popular culture, particularly in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s Hugh Hefner was an American entrepreneur and founder of Playboy magazine, known for his lavish lifestyle and parties at the Playboy Mansion, where he would host wild parties and recruit young women02:49:46 Jay-Z's Partnership with the NFL and Colin KaepernickNessa Diab, partner of Colin Kaepernick, accused Jay-Z, Rock Nation, and CEO Desiree Perez of working to silence her partner and rapper Nicki Minaj, and accepted millions from the NFL to calm public protests Join AK, Farrah, and Nana every Sunday at Noon GMT on Youtube for NEWS AND NONSENSEyour weekly dose of unfiltered news and sharp commentary.#NEWS