Help ‘Bring Wakanda To Newark’; Khem Fest Spotlights Black Comic Creators

NEWARK, NJ — For nearly a decade, Naseed Gifted has been pouring his heart into the Khem Fest, an annual gathering that seeks to put the spotlight on Black comic book creators. And according to the enterprising graphic novel creator – who also happens to work as a vice principal at Science Park High School in Newark – the city’s comic fans are giving him a big show of support in response.

Gifted, a two-time Glyph Comic Awards and Urban Action Showcase nominee, recently launched a Kickstarter online fundraiser he’s dubbed, “Bringing Wakanda to Newark.”

According to the fundraiser, the money will help to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) programs as part of this year’s Khem Fest, which will take place from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 at the Hahne & Co. Building, 609 Broad Street.

The three-day event will celebrate Black animation, gaming and comic book creators. It will include film awards, a fashion show, a marketplace, a gaming lounge, workshops, panels and special guests. There will also be a newly curated “The Future is Black Afrofuturism Art + Tech Gallery.” Learn more here.

“Our festival is a diverse networking event for professionals and enthusiasts to inspire, cultivate and honor Black creators and their contributions as it relates to popular arts and media,” said Gifted, a New Jersey Institute of Technology graduate who founded the festival in 2015.

The Bringing Wakanda to Newark campaign, which seeks to raise $10,000, has garnered more than $6,800 as of Wednesday. Learn more or make a donation here.

If it’s successful, the effort will give local students the chance to experiment with 3D printing, game design classes, Slime creation and robotics, as well as other genres like speculative fiction and animated films.

“We’re trying to get students interested in STEAM, and we use their passion for animation, gaming and comic books as a vehicle,” Gifted said.

Gifted reported that the response to the 2022 Kickstarter campaign has been “insane.”

“We launched Bringing Wakanda to Newark (Khem Fest) on Kickstarter, and in less than 48 hours we raised over $5,000, making us one of the fastest growing Kickstarter projects online today,” Gifted wrote, noting that he made a thank-you video in appreciation.

• See related article: Newark Principal Is Also Up-And-Coming Comic Book Creator
• See related article: NJ Native Explores Diversity Of Newark In His New Comic Book

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