Part 3: The Massive Opportunities in Atlanta’s Cultural Connection to South Africa
The creative economy is not just about expression. It is about jobs, futures and building sustainable connections across continents.
South Africa is investing in its youth through culture, and Atlanta’s creator class has the chance to lead.
Read @bemjoiner ’s full story at the link in @itsuatl ’s bio.
🤝 Support the journalism that matters: JOIN.UATL.COM
📸: Tyson Horne / AJC | Karl Carter | @bemjoiner / Instagram
#UATL #AtlantaInfluencesEverything #Atlanta #SouthAfrica
Part 1: The Massive Opportunities in Atlanta’s Cultural Connection to South Africa
Atlanta and South Africa have been culturally flirting for a long time. Now they are building a cultural and business exchange. With global events and local leaders opening the door, the moment is here. But as the world reaches for Atlanta’s culture, we have to ask: Who is being sent to represent it?
Read @bemjoiner ’s full story at the link in @itsuatl ’s bio.
🔜 Next up: Atlanta Risks Falling Behind if It Keeps Sidelining Creators
🤝 Support the journalism that matters: JOIN.UATL.COM
🖋️: Bem Joiner, as told by Mike Jordan / AJC
📸: Arvin Temkar, Ronald Williams / AJC | Bettmann / CORBIS | Melanie Patrick
#UATL #Atlanta #SouthAfrica
Last couple of weeks have been a continuation of “Bem type ‘ish” 😎. Spoke to some 4th Graders at The Galloway School about combining Community & Culture in Business, opened our Airport store on Concourse B (9), went to a Creative Economy event at Assembly Studios as well as some concerts (Hippie Sabotage, Curren$y & Disclosure), attended Atlanta United & Hawks games and enjoyed an amazing #Illumine experience at Oakland Cemetery. #TheMarathonContinues #AtlantaInfluencesEverything #NewLeaders #CreativeCultureCurator
They say “to know her is to love her”.
And we “know” you with every ounce of our beings. More than words could ever describe, and like the air we breathe and the sun that so faithfully rises, we “are” because of you.
The curation, the gift of color we give to this special place; this magical space, is dedicated to your sunshine in all of its forms, to Joy, and to Love; the ultimate law of Life.
Our beloved ATL, this is just the beginning of our letter to you.
Chapter 1: HENSE @hensethename
With love and forever yours,
✨ASHA✨
📷 1-4 @blandnotboring images courtesy of the artist
#FILA
Back to ur regular scheduled program /// snow on tha bluff (2011)
After redefining cinema with Snow on Tha Bluff, Atlanta cult icon Curtis Snow returns—this time with an iPhone instead of a stolen camcorder—to reclaim the story, identity, and intellectual property in a surreal living testimony delivered direct-to-his fans via iPhone.
This is not just a comeback story. It is a meta-narrative about authorship, exploitation, and digital capitalism.
A man labeled a criminal becomes a pioneering storyteller
A film about theft becomes a case study in intellectual property theft
A “robber” is robbed—by contracts, partners, and platforms
The neighborhood he documented is later “stolen” through gentrification
Atlanta itself becomes Curt’s co-star: From the shadow of the 1996 Summer Olympics to the rise of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the city evolves the same way Snow’s story does—rebranded, repackaged, and resold.
This weekend myself, members of my neighborhood the #WestEnd , many other ATLiens and folks throughout the South said our goodbyes to my Godmother, Mrs. Janice White Sikes-Rogers. She was my West End mom from the moment her son Troy and I met in the neighborhood and ended up going to this unique school in Grant Park called the Co-Op where I stayed getting pestered by his sister Arianna who eventually became my friend before she passed some years ago. Mrs. Sikes, Dan Sikes, my parents, Imam El Amin (H. Rap Brown), Oscar & Sylvia (RIP 🙏🏽) Harris amongst many others fought for the West End as well as the litany of neighborhoods that make up Southwest Atlanta. She helped get our neighborhood in the National Register of Historic Places as well as helped open the Auburn Ave. Research Library. She taught me the importance of preserving history and why it was paramount for me to be proud child of the South. The confidence I have to say the quiet part out loud when no one else will comes from Mrs. Sikes. She will be missed and has also laid the groundwork for others to continue #DoingTheWork 💪🏽. Thank you for our talks Mrs. Sikes and for the the random rides I caught with you & Rev Will when I was walking 😅. I told you that I accept the mission and will make you proud. I just ask that you guide my voice… 🙏🏽🕊️😔🫡😇👑🏁 #WEND #SouthernByNature #NewLeaders
Took a minute to recoup from this #404Day but we got another one in the books and now it’s back to #DoingTheWork in these Atown streets! Many thanks to my partners in the @atl404day Collective as well as our many sponsors for believing in our “why”. Just a lil ole celebration of an area code & date that match Atlanta. Prayers to those that this day will forever mean something different to them. We will honor you and continue to show how & why #AtlantaInfluencesEverything for the greater good… 🙏🏽🫡💪🏽🙌🏽🍻🍑😎👑🏁 #KeepPushing #NewLeaders - Hat by @rellocomplex2 🔥
Straight from the source 🎤 The ones making 404 Day happen are talking all things plans, vibes, and what you don’t want to miss. . . . Bam Sparks and Bem Joiner talk everything Atlanta and 404 Day! Heads up….you gonna need to stay hydrated 💧#404Day2026 #AtlantaLife #TharonsTake #ATLEvents #CityCulture
Is 404 Day the new Freaknik 👀 Mark your calendars because April 4th is almost here and we got the tea straight from the people making it happen. . . . #404Weekend #ATLEvents2026 #TharonsTake #AtlantaCulture #CityTalk
