Afropunk Festival


The Afropunk Festival began in 2005, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. By 2018, Afropunk Festivals had also been held in various major cities, including Atlanta, London, Salvador, Dakar, and Johannesburg. The festival was co-founded by James Spooner and Matthew Morgan, and grew out of the 2003 documentary titled Afro-Punk which studied black punks across America.
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History

2005–2008

The festival was targeted towards black alternative-minded punks and supported by The Brooklyn Academy of Music. As the festival grew and the music industry became more diverse, the musical curation shifted towards reaching a broader black audience and the festival also began charging an admission fee. Due to festival alterations that deviated from the original Afropunk culture, former co-founder, James Spooner ended his involvement in 2008.

2009–2019

Jocelyn A. Cooper became involved with the festival in 2009. Afropunk Festival grew to hundreds and thousands of attendees, expanding into the cities of Atlanta, Paris, London, Johannesburg South Africa, Salvador, Brazil, Miami, and Minneapolis. Some notable artist performances by FKA Twigs, Tyler, the Creator, and Erykah Badu, set a new standard for the impression made by the festival.
Afropunk 2019's lineup also featured celebrated artists such as Jill Scott, Tierra Whack, Rico Nasty, and EarthGang, further amplifying the festival's reputation as a space for diverse and radical Black expression. In addition to musical acts, the event provided a platform for activism, beauty showcases, and photobooths that enriched the overall experience.

2020-Present

Afropunk is acquired by entrepreneur Richelieu Dennis and Essence Ventures. The festival adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting its first virtual event in 2020, branded as Planet Afropunk: Past, Present, and Future is Black. This virtual edition, held from October 23 to 25, showcased global talent and tackled critical socio-political issues. The lineup included artists like Ari Lennox, Meshell Ndegeocello, Moses Sumney, serpentwithfeet, and Tiwa Savage. Alongside performances, it featured virtual art galleries, Black hair showcases, and discussions on topics such as systemic racism, prison reform, and the criminal justice system. Attendees were encouraged to donate to organizations such as Color of Change and the Equal Justice Initiative.

Criticisms

Having emerged from political punk roots, Afropunk Festival has faced criticism at times, including backlash over booking artists such as M.I.A., Ice Cube and Tyler the Creator.
Attendees have also critiqued the values of Afropunk's organizers surrounding LGBTQ concerns, treatment of employees, and its corporate leanings. Some attendees critique the festival for appealing to white audiences, including an instance of attendees being removed from an area of the festival for wearing a homemade t-shirt critical of the event. In August 2018, Afropunk's Editor-In-Chief resigned after over a decade of work for Afropunk citing mistreatment and a corporate agenda he labeled "performative activism".

Performers

Brooklyn, July 3–8, 2009

Brooklyn, June 25–27, 2010

2011 cancelation

Cancelled due to Hurricane Irene.

Brooklyn, August 25–26, 2012

Brooklyn, August 24–25, 2013

Brooklyn, August 23–24, 2014

Brooklyn, August 22–23, 2015

Brooklyn, August 27–28, 2016

Brooklyn, August 26–27, 2017

Paris, July 14–15, 2018

Brooklyn, August 25–26, 2018

Atlanta, October 13–14, 2018

Johannesburg, December 30–31, 2018

Paris, July 13–14, 2019

Brooklyn, August 24–25, 2019

Atlanta, October 12–13, 2019

Johannesburg, December 30–31, 2019

  • Solange
  • Miguel
  • Masego
  • Goldlink
  • Nao
  • Sjava
  • Sho Madjozi
  • Kwani Experience
  • Urban Village
  • Zoe Modiga
  • Blinky Bill
  • Morena Leraba
  • Darkie Fiction
  • TCIYF
  • Umlilo
  • House of Diamonds
  • House of Reve
  • Jazzidisciples
  • DJ Kenzhero
  • DBN Gogo
  • Batekoo
  • Gina Jeanz
  • Zara Julius
  • Lelowhatsgood
  • Fif_laaa

Virtual, October 23–25, 2020

Atlanta, September 25–26, 2021

Miami, May 20–22, 2022

Minneapolis, June 18–19, 2022

Brooklyn, September 10–11, 2022

Bahia, November 26–27, 2022

  • Ludmilla
  • Rayssa Dias
  • Young Piva
  • Baile Favelle
  • N.I.N.A.
  • Paulilo Paredao
  • Margareth Menezes
  • Emicida
  • A Dama featuring MC Carol
  • Baco
  • Liniker
  • Black Pantera
  • ÀTTØØXXÁ & Karol Conka
  • Psirico
  • Mart'Nalia & Larissa Luz convidam Nelson Rufino
  • Nic Dias
  • Ministereo Publico Sound System
  • Yan Cloud
  • Dawer x Damper
  • Masego

Manhattan, February 24–25, 2023

  • Mahogany L. Browne
  • Aja Monet
  • Celisse
  • Danielle Ponder
  • India Arie
  • Ebony Williams
  • Sarah Jones
  • Umi
  • Mereba

Brooklyn, August 26–27, 2023

  • Teyana Taylor
  • Flying Lotus
  • Joey Badass
  • Vince Staples
  • Tobe Nwigwe
  • Baby Tate
  • Durand Bernarr
  • Sudan Archives
  • The Beatnuts
  • Dreamer Isioma
  • Amindi
  • Enny
  • Rahzel
  • Madison McFerrin
  • Jack Freeman
  • Iniko
  • DBN Gogo
  • Akwaeke Emezi
  • Proper.
  • Cleo Reed
  • Dawer x Damper
  • King Isis
  • Uniity
  • The Soapbox Presents
  • Bembona
  • Winter Wolf
  • The Rack
  • DJ SNS
  • Stonie Blue
  • DJ Mohogany
  • Wemi

Brooklyn, August 23–24, 2024