Update 7/16: The Afrikcan Festival has been postponed. A representative sent the following press statement, "The AfrikCan Festival has been postponed until September 9-13. Additional details will be forthcoming in the next 24 hours. Many of the artists have already confirmed participation in the September festival. Others will continue to be confirmed in the coming days."
The first annual AfrikCancelebration of African music, literature, arts, fashion and food is set to take place in Boston, MA this coming July 21-25 at Ramsey Park. Though brand new, the 5-day festival has recruited some of the biggest names around for a lineup that includes Côte d'Ivoire reggae legend Alpha Blondy, Nigerian pop star Wizkid, South Africa's biggest house DJ Black Coffee, Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo, DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown (aka Erykah Badu), Jidenna, Eric Wainaina, Oumou Sangare, Antibalas, Blitz The Ambassador, Zaki Ibrahim, Les Nubians, Akua Naru, Osekre and many more.
“I grew up in Senegal, and there were three huge things in our culture: food, fashion and music,” mentions AfrikCan founder Marie-Claude Mendy, "That was in Dakar, but [it's] like that all over Africa. That’s what we’re showing here, we’re representing all the regions of the continent, from Dakar to Dar es Salaam, from the Cape to Cairo.” Osekre, a featured artist as well as a curator of the festival adds, "There’s a big movement toward African unity, at home and abroad. We want to connect the Pan-Africanist and Afropolitan generations, the young and the established. The voices are all relevant, they have something to say to one another. We’re bridging gaps."
Check out the festival's full line-up and schedule over at the AfrikCan website and watch videos from some of the headliners below. Tickets are available for individual nights, weekend passes or full 5-day passes.
>>>Buy Tickets To AfrikCan with Alpha Blondy, Wizkid, Black Coffee, Angélique Kidjo & More in Boston
Wizkid "Ojuelegba"
Black Coffee's Boiler Room Set
Angélique Kidjo ft. ZZ Ward "Bomba (Velly Remix)"