Afronation And Why A Diaspora Festival Is Important For African Music

August 8, 2022

Over the last fifty or so years, people of black and African origin have created for themselves platforms that celebrate musical excellence and heritage. You can see it in iconic television shows such as Soul Train, produced by Don Cornelius, which started in 1971. You can see also pop culture staples like Video Music Box by Ralph McDaniels, which began airing in 1983. Many turning points of black American music – rock n roll, R&B, hip hop – are scored by the connection or, more importantly, the reach to Africa. Across the pond in Europe, it hasn’t been as dominant, despite the heavy influence of African music and culture on British society. Yes, a few outlets (such as Music Of Black Origin) have promoted black music in Britain. Still, the UK is only one country and Europe, in fairness, is made up of dozens of distinctly different cultures, each profoundly proud of its heritage. Why is Afronation, a multi-day festival that puts modern African music (and yes, our Afrobeats) on the world stage, a significant component in the rise of music?

As each civilisation in the world’s history comes of age, it often reaches across the globe and brings its heritage. There are relics of the dominant Roman era over England and the British Isles. The world eats chocolates today mainly because the ancient Aztec civilisation of South America first domesticated them before the Spaniard invaders took them from there and introduced them all over the world. At other times, the heritage of a people is stunted through colonialism, and that’s why you see African countries having English and French as their official languages. That’s a matter for another, but here we are.

We currently live in an age where the world, despite its many difference, is united more than it has ever been in human history. We may not speak the same languages or eat the same clothes. But youth culture, which drives popular culture and which, in turn, human interaction – is the same. The existence of technology at this time has removed all the walls, and it has helped us all share experiences. The teenage angst that inspires heartwrenching soulful tunes is the same in Nairobi as in New Jersey. The freedom that drives coming-of-age anthems is the same on the streets of Rotterdam in Accra. This interconnectivity that gives us a common fate makes African music so heavily in demand- well, in addition to being so damn good.

The concept of Afronation is simple enough: once or twice a year, find a place away from the busy metropolitan centres of the world, but a stage there and have the most prominent African stars in the world perform there. Of course, the execution is far more complex than that. Since 2019 when it launched, it’s been the high point of many fans’ year- spending parts of their vacations in the wild. It’s held a couple of times in Portugal now, had a homecoming version in Ghana, and it’s also been in Peurto Rico. Today, Afronation is the biggest Afrobeats festival in the world, and it’s not wrong. There isn’t a more prominent platform that puts the biggest African performers on the world stage.

This year, in particular, has also shone a spotlight on some of those who are up next, giving them the same stage as their more established contemporaries. Artistes like Black Sherif, BNXN, and Amaria BB have performed at the same event as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy and Megan Thee Stallion. Apart from the bragging rights and Instagram posts, sharing at this moment also means they get to be seen by newer audiences that are latching on to Afronation for their Afrobeats fix. For some, it would also serve as a pointer to their presently deficient stagecraft, which may have been excused if they were back home. That, as the credit card advert says, is priceless.

I have personally thought that we live in the age of African pride. It’s evident in sports and movies and shared most easily through our music. It is, therefore, necessary, to me at least, that we are the custodians of that culture as our music continues to project its preeminence worldwide. Afronation is proof of that because it is THE culture.

Jide Taiwo is a writer and media executive. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria and tweets via @thejidetaiwo.

Images from Afronation 2022