PRESENTS

The Evolution of Hair Show &

TheKingofLoc Virtual Experience

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15 - 16th February 2026

A global 2-day virtual summit celebrating the culture, creativity, and evolution of hair.

TICKETS ARE LIVE

2026 SPONSOR

Meet Our Speakers

Keturah (K Slay)

Lyric Daugherty

Marla fatal

See all Speakers

Become a Speaker

Transform Your Craft, Elevate Your Crown, and Expand Your Reach

This isn’t another virtual show.
It’s the digital revolution in natural hair artistry — where education meets culture, and legacy meets opportunity.

For two unforgettable days, the brightest stylists, barbers, locticians, educators, and innovators from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and the Caribbean will gather online to teach, compete, and celebrate what it means to be Afrikan Intelligent.

“If you’re serious about growing your brand, this is where you need to be.” — Attendee, 2025 Hair Summit

MEET OUR EVENT ORGANIZERS

Thando Kafele

Thando Kafele is a master natural hair culturalist, visionary artist, and the brainchild behind the Afrikan Intelligence Hair Show—a groundbreaking platform created to reclaim African hair as a site of knowledge, resistance, and cultural intelligence.

His journey began at the iconic Locks ’N Chops in New York City, where he trained under Adémola Mandela and Orin Saunders, developing a foundation rooted in technical mastery, intentional client care, and deep cultural pride. This formative experience shaped not only his approach to hair, but his understanding of its spiritual, political, and historical significance within the Black experience.

Now the owner of a private practice, Thando challenges societal norms and confronts the lingering residue of slavery and colonialism through the sacred art of hair. Afrikan Intelligence was born from this calling—a space where hair is not treated as trend or commodity, but as ancestral language, living protest, and divine expression. The show calls Black people to be unmanageable in spirit, reclaiming autonomy, identity, and self-definition through culture.

For Thando, hair is more than a style—it is liberation work. Through Afrikan Intelligence, he continues to build a movement that honors unapologetic Blackness, educates across generations, and restores hair to its rightful place as a source of power, memory, and collective freedom.

Athenia Rodney

Athenia Rodney is a community builder, cultural strategist, and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience producing large-scale cultural events, educational programming, and empowerment initiatives rooted in African and Diasporic excellence. She is the Founder & CEO of Juneteenth NYC and Umoja Events, leading one of the nation’s most recognized Juneteenth platforms, reaching tens of thousands in person and millions digitally each year.

As a founding member of Afrikan Intelligence, Athenia brings deep expertise in community engagement, event strategy, and culturally grounded storytelling. Her work centers on creating spaces that celebrate African heritage, elevate Black-owned businesses, and connect culture with education, innovation, and economic impact.

Through Afrikan Intelligence, Juneteenth NYC, and her broader ecosystem of initiatives, Athenia remains committed to amplifying voices, building sustainable platforms, and honoring the global African narrative through intentional collaboration and visionary leadership.

Mekeba Eaddy

Mekeba Eaddy is a pioneering elite hairstylist, educator, and cultural curator whose work bridges textured-hair mastery with high-fashion and media excellence. She is the lead hairstylist for the three-time award-winning television show New Morning on the Hallmark Network, hosted by Timberly Whitfield.

She is the CEO of Textures & Beauty and creator of the private cosmetic label Sea Moss Peppermint, featuring her signature Cleansing Cascade and Hydration Harmony products. A licensed cosmetologist, licensed natural hair care specialist educator, cranial prosthesis specialist, and master male groomer, Mekeba brings technical precision and cultural integrity to every platform she touches.

As the protégé of legendary hairstylist Derrick Scurry, Mekeba carries forward a Paris–New York lineage of groundbreaking textured-hair artistry rooted in versatility, reinvention, and inclusive representation. She is also a co-founder of the Afrikan Intelligence Virtual Natural Hair Show, where she champions texture diversity, education, and global visibility for natural hair communities.

Through mentorship, innovation, and cultural stewardship, Mekeba continues to honor legacy while expanding opportunity—redefining beauty through integrity, evolution, and unapologetic authenticity.