As summer heats up, Detroit prepares for a season of vibrant outdoor events, including the highly anticipated Afro Nation festival. Scheduled for August 17-18 at Bedrock’s Douglass site, this festival celebrates Afrobeats artistes and African culture, per bridgedetroit.com.
Originating in 2019, Afro Nation quickly became the world’s largest Afrobeats festival, filling a gap in the music industry by providing a global platform for African superstars. Josh Koram, in charge of artiste bookings, shared that the inaugural event in Portugal attracted over 20,000 attendees, highlighting the diaspora’s enthusiasm for Afrobeats music.
Koram explained that Detroit’s rich musical heritage in R&B, techno and gospel made it an ideal location to connect the diaspora. “Why not bring that culture and experience to Detroit?” he said.
This year’s lineup is star-studded, featuring headliners Lil Wayne, Asake and Rema. Koram, a hip-hop enthusiast, said including Lil Wayne to blend Afrobeats with hip-hop, enhances the festival’s appeal.
New additions this year include a stronger emphasis on local DJs, Caribbean artistes like Shenseea, and diverse acts like PartyNextDoor from Canada. The festival will also introduce the Piano People Stage, dedicated to Amapiano, a popular blend of house, electronic music and African rhythms.
Koram expressed excitement over the rising popularity of Afrobeats in America, citing collaborations between artists like Wizkid, Tems, and Justin Bieber as signs of the genre’s growing influence in modern pop culture.
- Featured image: The Afro Nation elephant at its Puerto Rico festival in 2022/Afro Nation Facebook
