Written By: Tracey Khan
A powerful celebration of hair, culture, and identity unfolded in Manhattan, New York in mid August as Love His Locs NYC Vol 2 brought together a vibrant crowd at 5th & Madison. The event, co-hosted by LOCnificent Fest and Men With Locs, centered Black men with locs and the people who love them, through a day of music, joy, and affirmation.
More than just a party, Love His Locs served as a prelude to something much bigger: LOCnificent Fest 7.0, returning to Brooklyn this October with expanded programming and a deepened commitment to cultural impact.
“Love His Locs started as a way to shift the narrative and uplift the image of Black men with locs,” said Lovaeta Amoako, founder of LOCnificent Fest. “It’s about love, representation, and reclaiming how we see ourselves and each other.”
With DJs spinning genre-blending sets and an atmosphere of pure celebration, the event reflected the festival’s core values: beauty, pride, and community. Photos from the evening captured what words often can’t, the power of being seen, celebrated, and surrounded by joy.
What’s Next: LOCnificent Fest 7.0
Now in its seventh year, LOCnificent Fest continues to grow in scale and influence. The 2025 theme, “We Are the Blueprint,” places Black beauty and culture at the forefront of global conversations around style, innovation, and identity.
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This year’s LOCnificent Fest will feature two major events. On October 2, Setting the Standard: A Panel Discussion & Mixer will take place at BKLYN Commons, where artists, entrepreneurs, and scholars will engage in a dynamic conversation about the enduring global influence of Black hair and culture. The celebration continues on October 5 with the main festival day at Atolye Venue & Bar in Brooklyn, bringing the full LOCnificent experience to life.
“Black culture sets the standard, period,” Amoako said. “LOCnificent Fest is where we celebrate that, boldly and unapologetically.”
New this year, LOCnificent Fest is deepening its commitment to community by launching the Locsanity Community Impact Award. This honor will recognize two changemakers, one with locs and one with natural hair, whose work uplifts, empowers, and strengthens their local communities.
Nominations are open through September 12, with winners to be announced and celebrated live on October 5 during the main festival day. Each honoree will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a commemorative award.
Amoako says the initiative marks an important step in LOCnificent’s growth from a celebration of culture to a movement rooted in visibility, investment, and lasting impact.
More Than a Festival — A Cultural Force
Founded in 2018 by Lovaeta Amoako, LOCnificent Fest began as a local gathering to celebrate natural hair, especially locs, while challenging societal stigma. What started as a Brooklyn backyard event has since become recognized as a lively celebration of Black beauty, identity, and entrepreneurship.
“We’ve gone from a party to a platform,” Amoako said. “Our mission is still the same: celebrate, educate, empower, and ensure our people feel seen and valued.”
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Past festivals have featured natural hair runway shows, live hair styling, cultural performances, vendors, thought-provoking discussions, and black joy. With its seventh edition on the horizon, LOCnificent is once again set to affirm that Black beauty isn’t a trend, it’s the blueprint.
“The world keeps borrowing from us,” Amoako added. “It’s time they know where the blueprint came from.”
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