8.21.2023

Afro Nation Detroit: Sunday Recap

A Celebration of Afrobeats and Global Black Music & Culture, the Inaugural Afro Nation Detroit Closes With Performances From Davido, Coi Leray, P-Square, Masego, and Many More

(Credit: Afro Nation / @JMULKA)

THE RECAP:

Celebrating and showcasing Afrobeats and other Black genres, Afro Nation‘s foray into the U.S. market has been an astonishing success. Today, the brand’s second U.S. festival, Afro Nation Detroit, reached its triumphant conclusion, packing in performances from an array of international all-stars and icons on the rise.

Sunday’s festivities culminated in a performance from Davido, a foundational figure in the modern Afrobeats scene. With deep roots in both Nigeria and the United States, Davido was the ideal closer for the event, and he lived up to his billing with performances of classic hits, songs from his 2023 album Timeless, and a duet with special guest Latto, of the recently released remix to his hit single, “UNAVAILABLE” ft. Musa Keys that dropped this past Friday.

Earlier in the afternoon, fans at the historic Brewster-Douglass location witnessed a performance from Nigerian brother-brother duo P-Square, who were among the first to mix Nigerian styles with contemporary hip-hop and R&B in the mid-’00s. Always an energetic performer, Coi Leray put on a show with choreography and her growing catalog of hit, while Masego demonstrated his incredible musicianship across multiple instruments. Congolese-French star Franglish, Nigerian singer Teni, and Detroit-native Ebony Riley touched the stage earlier in the day. Meanwhile, at the Piano People stage, fans danced all day to the superb South African sounds of Major League Djz, DBN Gogo, TxC, and more, as well as participated in an enthusiastic sing-along of Libianca’s Hot 100 hit “People.”

With its two U.S. festivals in 2023, Afro Nation Detroit and May’s Afro Nation Miami, Afro Nation proves that there is plenty of room in the American market for Afrobeats to thrive. As the genre continues its run as one of the most popular global genres, Afro Nation will continue to showcase its best and brightest stars, provide a platform for rising African artists, and weave in representatives from Global Black genres including, but not limited to, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, soca, amapiano, and reggaeton. Stay tuned for more announcements from Afro Nation–the world’s biggest celebration of Afrobeats and African Culture will return to the U.S. in 2024.

Follow Afro Nation U.S. on Instagram for in-the-moment updates.

View photos of Afro Nation Detroit 2023 (please credit all photos to Afro Nation / @photographer):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w10op73ef98jyys/AADt16ePh1kQhkvEvFQXHRyIa?dl=0

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kevin, Destiny, or T’Keyah

DAVIDO:

The Afrobeats legend closes the festival in celebratory fashion, playing his timeless hits and songs from his 2023 album Timeless
(Credit: Afro Nation / @Shaunllewellyn_)

(Credit: Afro Nation / @JONBRYANT_)

P-SQUARE:

Nigeria’s favorite duo mixes hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and dance
(Credit: Afro Nation / @_FLIXZ)

COI LERAY:

The “Players” hitmaker puts on a show, with dancing, singing, rapping and more
(Credit: Afro Nation / @JMULKA)

(Credit: Afro Nation / @JMULKA)

MASEGO:

Multi-instrumentalist Masego dazzles with his musicianship (Credit: Afro Nation / @Shaunllewellyn_)

MAJOR LEAGUE DJZ:

The South African amapiano DJ duo headlined the club-like Piano People stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / @Shaunllewellyn_)

LIBIANCA:

With roots in Minnesota and Cameroon, the rising singer impresses with her vocal chops, and leads a sing-along of crowd favorite hit “People”
(Credit: Afro Nation / @_FLIXZ)

FRANGLISH:

The Congolese-French singer brings his fresh sound to the main stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / @Shaunllewellyn_)

TENI:

The Nigerian songstress leads a sing-along to “Power Rangers”
(Credit: Afro Nation / @_FLIXZ)

DBN GOGO:

Amapiano mainstay DBN Gogo had the crowd moving at the Piano People Stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / @JONBRYANT_)

EBONY RILEY:

The Detroit R&B chanteuse wows the afternoon crowd
(Credit: Afro Nation / @JONBRYANT_)

TXC:

Tarryn and Clairise, the South African DJ duo known as TXC, rockin’ the Piano People stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / @A_CIGGS)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:

(Credit: Afro Nation / @A_CIGGS)

(Credit: Afro Nation / @JONBRYANT_)

(Credit: Afro Nation /@JMULKA)

(Credit: Afro Nation / @A_CIGGS)

CRITICAL PRAISE:

“Afro Nation events began in Portugal in 2019 and are continuing to grow and expand across the globe as a way to showcase and celebrate Afro-fusion, reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, soca and more Black-led music.” – Billboard

“Afro Nation is more than just a two-day music festival. It’s even beyond a gathering of Africans, American or otherwise, descending on a city to have a good time with good vibes. It’s a mecca of unapologetic Blackness that puts the spotlight on not just music, but unity, and community.” – Detroit Metro Times

“With previous events in Ghana and Puerto Rico, Afro Nation has the accolade of being the world’s biggest festival centered on Afrobeats music.” – Billboard

“‘It really touches your soul.’ Afro Nation Miami puts spotlight on West African culture.” – Miami Herald

“Afro Nation Miami had an unmistakable African essence, fusing afrobeats, amapiano, and reggae.” – Variety

“Afro Nation Detroit 2023 wasn’t just a festival; it was a renaissance. A reminder of where we come from, the unity in our diversity, and the power of black excellence.” – The Michigan Chronicle

“The festival promises to deliver an impressive array of today’s hottest artists from Africa and the diaspora.” – Yahoo!

“For the festival goers, this year’s event fulfilled the 2-year long draught of social distancing and zero socializing. Social media was a buzz with Instagram reels featuring artist performances, festival fashion, and social engagements by the beach on the beautiful Praia da Rocha beach, just south of Portimão….Now with a second edition taking place in Ghana, this coming December, Afro Nation is yet to see more success.” – MEFeater

THE BACKGROUND:

Launched in 2019 with critical acclaim, Afro Nation is the biggest Afrobeats celebration in the world and a fast growing global cultural influence. The festival was founded by Nigerian creative industry entrepreneurs Obi Asika, and Smade, in association with BBC 1 Xtra. The events unite the diaspora and deliver something culturally important to a hugely underserved audience. In 2022, 40,000 music lovers attended Afro Nation Portugal to see the biggest names in Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Dancehall at one of the most beautiful beach locations on the planet – past artists include Burna Boy, Davido, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, Scorpion Kings, Major League DJz and many more. After finishing 2022 with Afro Nation Ghana (Dec. 29-30), Afro Nation is expanding even further in 2023. Next up: Afro Nation Detroit, hitting the Motor City on August 19th-20th.

Afro Nation Detroit follows up the successful Afro Nation Miami, which debuted in May 2023. Headlined by Afrobeats giants Burna Boy and WizKid, and featuring a powerful lineup of artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and across the globe, the festival earned coverage in The New Yorker, Variety, Billboard, and more.

Afro Nation festivals are dedicated to providing a global platform for music from Africa and its diaspora. In addition, Afro Nation teams with BBC Radio 1xtra and the Official Charts Company to host a weekly UK Afrobeats Chart Show, and in 2022, Afro Nation partnered with Billboard to present the first-ever U.S. Afrobeats Chart.

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