CELEBRATING 100 ISSUES!
The Soultown April 2025
Inside this issue, I made a promise to you — much like the promise I made to my ancestors as I stood inside the House of Slaves. I accepted their charge: Keep telling our stories. For us. For them. For the future. And this issue delivers just like the prior 99.
Right in the center of this collector’s edition is your gift — a commemorative calendar featuring all 100 covers of The Soultown Magazine. Beginning with April 2025 and closing out with our latest covers through December, this calendar is more than a keepsake. It’s proof of the legacy we’ve built, and the road still ahead.
Get Connected
The Soultown is building a national Black Business Directory. When we
work together, we THRIVE.
Click the link in this issue to
add your name and join The Soultown Black Business Directory!
Our Story
Our Stories Implore Positive Progress In Our Towns With Soul!
Mountain View, CA 94043 • 319.505.4020 • thesoultownmagazine.com •
chillin@thesoultownmagazine.com
Founded in 2017, The Soultown Magazine has been dedicated to delivering the latest news and trends in the newspaper and magazine industry. We have a team of experienced journalists who are passionate about their work and strive to provide our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information. Its inaugural issue on January 15, 2017, garnered an impressive 1,000+ digital viewers, solidifying its commitment to delivering valuable content and fostering community engagement. We aim to create a community of engaged and informed readers who rely on us for the latest news, trends, and insights. We believe that our content has the power to educate, inspire, and entertain, and we are committed to delivering the best possible experience to our readers.
Our History
The Soultown Magazine is born from the profound dedication of our CEO, Cherie “Chillin” Kabba, rooted in a promise made during a transformative visit to the House of Slaves on Goree Island in 2007—the Sankofa Vow. This commitment revolves around sharing historical and contemporary narratives to educate and empower Brown and Black communities. Inspired by her transformative journey to Dakar, Senegal, The Soultown Magazine remains steadfast in its mission to empower and enlighten communities. The Soultown Magazine was established in 2017 as an independent magazine publisher. Since then, we have expanded our reach to cover a wide range of topics including politics, entertainment, sports, and business.
Community Growth and Engagement
Since its inception, The Soultown Magazine has seen significant growth, with its virtual community now spanning 17 states and 29 zip codes, supported by businesses and community leaders. Notably, Mayor Quentin Hart of Waterloo, Iowa, has exemplified impactful support for The Soultown Magazine since 2017, reflecting a shared commitment to community growth and enlightenment.
Our Team
Our team of journalists and editors are passionate about the newspaper and magazine industry. With decades of experience between them, they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to The Soultown Magazine.
We have a team of talented writers and editors who are passionate about their craft. Our contributors come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a unique perspective to the stories they cover.
Our Values
At The Soultown Magazine, we value integrity, accuracy, and creativity. We are committed to providing our readers with truthful and unbiased information, and we strive to be a trusted source of news and information for our community. We believe that great content is a result of hard work, dedication, and a willingness to take risks and try new things.
Sponsorship, Advertisement, and Reach
The Soultown Magazine strategically promotes itself through various channels, including Google, Facebook, its website, and prominent social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. This digital advertising approach has proven highly effective on both local and national scales, reaching a growing audience. The print edition serves local businesses in reaching a broader community, while the digital edition taps into a burgeoning online market, expanding its influence and fostering deeper connections within and beyond the community.
The Soultown Magazine’s Contributing Artists
Our team of contributing artists comprises volunteer writers, illustrators, cartoonists,
and photographers hailing from various locations across the United States and South Africa.
If you wish to become part of our team, please submit a sample of your work to chillin@thesoultownmagazine.com with the subject line: “I Got Soul.” Your interest is appreciated.
Thank You for Having SOUL!
About The Soultown Magazine
Our History
Founded in 2017, by Cherie Chillin' Kabba;
The Soultown Magazine has been dedicated to delivering local news and trends in the newspaper and magazine industry. We have a team of experienced journalists who are passionate about their work and strive to provide our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information. Its inaugural issue on January 15, 2017, garnered an impressive 1,000+ digital viewers, solidifying its commitment to delivering valuable content and fostering community engagement. We aim to create a community of engaged and informed readers who rely on us for the latest news, trends, and insights. We believe that our content has the power to educate, inspire, and entertain, and we are committed to delivering the best possible experience to our readers, supporters and followers.
IT ALL BEGAN IN WEST AFRICA ON GOREE ISLAND
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
"In 2007, I made a promise to my ancestors while standing in Les Maison des Esclaves (the House of Slaves) on Goree Island; off the coast of Dakar, Senegal; West Africa.
Les Maison des Esclaves
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
I could feel the spirits of my ancestors hovering over me -- as I stood in the same place where they were kept against their will -- after being stolen from their native land.
The Door of No Return
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
As my eyes welled with tears, I whispered a promise. I promised them that I would discover a way to tell their stories to their great, great, great, great, great-grandchildren -- to educate them about their triumphs and their struggles.
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
The Soultown Digital & Print Magazine is the manifestations of the promise.
The Sankofa Vow is the last word in each issue of The Soultown Magazine. Without fear or favor,
I share the most intimate thoughts from the perspective of an African-American female,
who is also a descendant of a slave.
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
It is comprised of contributing artists, writers, businesses, and amazing people who help to immortalize the stories of their communities to implore positive progress.
Immortalizing Our Stories
The Sankofa Vow is The Promise made by Chillin'
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
Join The Soultown community by subscribing, reading, sharing our positive stories.
Got Soul?
We do!
~ Chillin da Conscious Poet
1,000 Stories Told!
Because our stories matter, our voices matter.
The Soultown Magazine is here to make sure the world never forgets YOU.
Leave your footprint—share your story or nominate a soul to be featured in one of our next 100 unforgettable issues!
If your nominee is selected,
YOU get 10% off your subscription!
Let’s keep our legacy loud, proud, and in print.