Manila, Philippines — Regine Guevara, Filipina producer and chair of the board of AsiaTV Studios, together with Afro-Asian musician, DJ and artist Xander Pratt, graced the Russia-Africa Summit to push the Global South Way Initiative, which aims to solidify and celebrate the Global South, or the countries in the regions of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia (without Israel, Japan, and South Korea), and Oceania (without Australia and New Zealand).
According to Friends for Leadership host Roman Chukov from the Center for International Promotion of Russian Initiatives, it is crucial to inspire young people’s creativity, while serving as a catalyst for sustainable growth and harmonious global development.
The forum is meant to put the spotlight on prioritizing liberal arts and culture from the ills of colonialism, which is the recurring theme of the event attended by heads of different states.
To address this, the Global South Initiative was launched to empower the next generation of artists, journalists, leaders and culture experts.
Pratt, a Zimbabwe-born musician, painter and creative director, recited his self-authored poem during the summit, inspiring the world to remember the impact of Africa:
”You are Africa, as I am. We are Africa.
Africa is sound… the sound of a Mother lulling her New Born, into the New World
Africa is color… the color of darkness in a room that can be filled with all spectrum of light
Africa is movement… the spirits moving through the elements of Nature, uniting all of us into One Family
We are Africa.”
According to Pratt, the children of Africa need to believe again, not just in the heroes of Hollywood, but their our own kings, sultans and warriors. Pratt, who just released his album ”Fireflies” during his tour in Asia, is about to launch an all-African-produced Hollywood film ”The Black Sultan” slated for 2025.
”The Black Sultan” is all about returning the lost heritage back to Africa and Asia. Set in Alkebukan pre-colonial Africa, the upcoming superhero movie is driven by a quest to retrieve 12 lost artifacts that have been lost in history.
Pratt also visited Saint Petersburg and Moscow, presenting an interactive DJ show with the DLT group, to a series of listening parties at the Moscow Square and Secret Room. He also started working on his fashion label to be launched in Russia, working with stylists and photographers to produce a massive Afro-Russia winter collection. Pratt’s The XP Collection represents the opulent nature of African design and the premium Asian and Mediterranean fabric. The collection is predominantly in gold palette, and tells the tale of a Sultan and Sultanah, inspired by the designer’s fascination with the Kingdom of Morocco, vis-à-vis Russia Federation. Pratt’s The XP Collection is available online, and www.xanderprattcollection.com
AsiaTV Studios Back in Russia in September
Staying true to Afro-Asia connectivity next month, AsiaTV Studios is set to return to Russia for an art show leading up to the Eastern Economic Forum. This will be inspired by Xander Pratt’s new painting collection: the Avant Garde release dubbed as “Cinema.”
This glow-in-the-dark painting series is inspired by astronauts to inspire the next generation to go for the future they want. The painting series is sponsored by AsiaTV Studios.
“In today’s world, a lot has been written by the world about what cultures should aspire, which ultimately serves the his-story maker’s interests. But to be the writers of one’s own personal and collective stories and dreams, from the growing universality of Afro beats and Amapiano music, to Arkana fabric prints, to a wide plethora of cuisines and languages one can dive in, such are what the West can only dream of possessing. Going back to one’s core origin is where progress truly begins. Needless to say, the ultimate goal is to bring together the various pieces of Peace, towards a shared human family,“ Regine of AsiaTV Studio shared.