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Strategic Milestone for Afro-Colombian Heritage

CALI, COLOMBIA – February 26, 2026 – We are proud to announce that the Pan-African Council, has been formally invited by the City of Cali in Colombia to join the Advisory Committee for the 30th Anniversary of the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival.

This invitation, extended by the City’s Secretariat of Culture, marks a significant step in strengthening the bridge between the Colombian Pacific and the global African diaspora.

Why This Matters

The year 2026 represents a historic milestone. For three decades, “El Petronio” has served as the beating heart of Afro-Colombian identity, honoring ancestral memory and cultural power.

Our participation in this committee aims to:

• Scale the Legacy: Project the 30th edition as a world-class celebration of Pan-African heritage.
• Strategic Vision: Collaboration with leaders to integrate international perspectives.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Solidify Cali’s position as a central hub for the global African diaspora community.

Stay tuned as we prepare for our first session on March 12, 2026, to begin mapping out this historic commemoration.

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New Jersey, USA / Cali, Colombia – [June 15, 2025]

The Pan-African Council is proud to welcome celebrity music executives Jamal “Mally” Brandon and Steven “Steve-O” Carless as strategic Board Members, bringing their unparalleled expertise and vision to launch a transformative community initiative in Colombia and beyond. This groundbreaking program aims to uplift the music and creative industries, nurture local talent, and bolster the entertainment business by establishing an artist development program, a state-of-the-art music studio in the heart of Cali’s most marginalized communities, and a distribution strategy to connect local artists with international markets and fans.

Jamal “Mally” Brandon, a seasoned Music Executive and Serial Entrepreneur, brings over a decade of experience in executive production, record production, deal negotiation, music video curation, artist management, and A&R. Known for his mantra of “connecting Creatives as a Creative,” Brandon’s career spans producing records like Fabolous’ “Lituation” to amassing over 1 billion YouTube views as a partner in Shot Selection Media, a venture specializing in targeted digital marketing and social media viewership. His journey from a former artist and record producer to a media mogul reflects his deep understanding of artistry and business. Through his work with MSLM DONS, Brandon promotes peace, discipline, and purpose among Black youth, using Islam as a guiding force to foster brotherhood and empowerment. His commitment to bridging the African American diaspora with Africa through tourism, citizenship, and investment aligns seamlessly with the Council’s mission to foster collaboration and advance Black communities globally in finance, education, and quality of life.

Joining Brandon is Steven “Steve-O” Carless, a renowned record executive, talent manager, tech advisor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Carless is celebrated for his work with global icons like Beyoncé, Polo G, and Nipsey Hussle, earning two Grammy Awards in 2020 for “Racks in the Middle” featuring Roddy Ricch and “Higher” with DJ Khaled. As a co-founder of The Defiant Foundation, Carless champions mentorship, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship to address wealth disparities in underserved communities. His leadership roles, including President of A&R at Warner Records and co-founder of the Republic Records Action Committee, underscore his dedication to systemic change in the music industry.

Through his company The Dream Company, Brandon is spearheading the Pan-African Council’s initiative in Cali, Colombia, creating a vibrant ecosystem for local artists. The artist development program will provide mentorship and training, the music studio will offer a professional space for creation, and the distribution strategy will amplify Colombian talent on the global stage. This initiative reflects the Council’s commitment to empowering marginalized communities and expanding our global footprint through cultural and economic collaboration.

We are thrilled to have Jamal “Mally” Brandon and Steve-O Carless on board, leveraging their expertise to drive impact and opportunity for Colombia’s creative communities. Join us in celebrating this milestone as we work to uplift local talent and connect the African diaspora through the universal language of music.

 

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Mystro & ChocQuibTown’s debut single 
‘Maria’ ushers in a new era of globally-united African music
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LAGOS, NIGERIA — In the wake of the global movement for Black lives, there has been a resounding call for unity amongst people of African origin around the world. Mystro & ChocQuibTown’s debut single ‘Maria’ reimagines this unity in the form of an unprecedented collaboration that brings together the creative imagination of Africans and the Diaspora.

The song’s production genius and co-lyriscist, Mystro, is a multi-talented instrumentalist, singer, performer, songwriter and producer managed by Sounding Cymbals, LLC. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria; his sojourn in the music industry began in 2004 when he began producing underground for a long list of artists. “I’m always ready to seek out new creative collaborations that bridge and advance the art form” says Mystro, who is responsible for producing numerous Nigerian hit songs alongside songs of his own. His production catalogue includes the industry’s top-charting Afrobeats musical talent: Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Iyanya, Orezi, Ayo Jay, KCee, Harrysong, Waje’s ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Silent Night’ covers, Iyanya’s ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Type of woman’, among others. Most recently, Mystro showcased his exceptional talent writing and producing on Tiwa Savage’s new album ‘Celia’ and was mix engineer for her appearance on the The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

The single stars ChocQuibTown, the Spanish-speaking Afro-Colombian trio and musical powerhouse that isn’t afraid to express their cultural heritage. The 2-time Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated group has become one of the leading voices for Colombia’s historically marginalized and overlooked Afro-Colombian community. As one of the country’s most innovative and versatile musical groups, fusing elements of traditional Colombian genres with Hip-Hop, Salsa, Latin Jazz, and Afro-Latin rhythms, the group has fearlessly ventured into the world of afrobeats.

“The moment I heard Mystro’s tracks, I felt afrobeats in my soul,” says Goyo, the group’s lead singer, “this is a musical style that has absolutely no language barriers, from Nigerian pidgin, to English, Spanish and Yoruba, it’s all about pure vibes and culture.”

Tostao, the band’s rapping sensation, voiced that “afrobeats are a natural fit for people throughout Latin America, our music is rooted in the rhythms and sounds that our enslaved ancestors brought with them to these shores, and it’s time for Africa to know that we, the children of Africa, exist in Colombia!”

The magical collaboration between Nigeria and Colombia was incubated by the Pan-African Council, a global strategic development organisation dedicated to uniting Africa and her Diaspora. The song’s music video, produced by E.G.A.C. Films and Replay Production, is a stunning celebration of Black beauty, unity and culture around the globe. With a colorful Afro-Latin and Nigerian casting in its entirety, the artists managed to blend a vibrant confluence of iconic dance steps with a romantically playful melody. The visual delivery is sure to captivate all of its fans.

The song will be released on an EP entitled “AfriKIN Beats” with 7 tracks that speak to the zeitgeist of this Pan-African moment and it is bound to top the charts. Maria is now available worldwide on all platforms with its not-to-be-missed music video launching November 30th, 2020.