The BLASTFEST Afrobeats festival is set to ignite Seattle Center for its second year, promising an even bigger celebration of West African pop music, per seattletimes.com. Founder DJ Blast, also known as Bobby Akinboro, anticipates a crowd of 6,500 fans, up from last year’s impressive 4,500 attendees.
Headlining the July 27 event is Grammy-nominated Nigerian superstar Davido, a pivotal figure in bringing Afrobeats to American audiences. The festival will also feature South African amapiano artiste Musa Keys, showcasing the genre’s growing global appeal.
Last year’s success caught the attention of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who kicked off the inaugural event and later featured it in his year-end report. This political endorsement has solidified BLASTFEST’s place in Seattle’s cultural landscape.
Akinboro, a Microsoft program manager by day, sees the festival as more than just entertainment. He aims to challenge stereotypes and showcase the diversity within Black culture.
“It’s my hope to continue to show the culture at its best,” Akinboro stated, emphasising the music’s themes of love, happiness, and success.
- Featured image: Bobby Akinboro aka DJ Blast(Courtesy of Bobby Akinboro)
