Music & Identity: Xeno Ray JNB’s experimental bedroom-built album Mono Modern leans into glitch, ambient textures and industrial hip hop without chasing trends. Purposeful Pop: <3peace. drops “THINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY.” with a gratitude-first message built for film and visual storytelling. Fashion as Culture: Imane Ayissi’s Paris haute couture win frames anti-colonial African pride as a long fight finally recognized on the runway. Local Arts & Community: Hurungwe Arts Festival goes regional for its 10th anniversary, bringing delegations from Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Kenya. Creative Economy & Ownership: Zoë Modiga’s “Vault” strategy spotlights how independent artists can turn archives into lasting leverage beyond label dependency. AI & Everyday Life: In Kampala studios, AI speeds up Ugandan music production—but producers are pushing back on “soul” and copyright questions. Platform Power: Spotify removes 75 million AI “slop” tracks to curb royalty scams, while Common Sense Media warns Google’s AI Search is an “unacceptable risk” for students. Arts in Public Spaces: Thunder Bay Airport unveils Indigenous artwork installations by Jessica Mamakeesick, turning a sterile terminal into a sense-of-place welcome. Tech for Creativity: Penn State’s washable “paint-on” electronic tattoos aim to monitor heart, muscles and brain without bulky wearables.