8.13.2024
DETROIT PISTONS TO HOST “PISTONS HOME COURT” AT AFRO NATION DETROIT 2024
Pistons-Themed Site Activation to feature Pop-Up Basketball Court and Pistons Marquee Letter Art Installation Designed by Local Detroit Artists
Critical Praise:
“…Afro Nation has the accolade of being the world’s biggest festival centered on Afrobeats music.” – Billboard
“When an international Afrobeats festival comes to one of the Blackest cities in America, history was bound to be made.” – Essence
“Detroit is Afro Nation…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
“…Afro Nation Miami had an unmistakable African essence, fusing afrobeats, amapiano, and reggae.” – Variety
“The festival promises to deliver an impressive array of today’s hottest artists from Africa and the diaspora.” – Yahoo!
The Announcement:
The Detroit Pistons are collaborating with Afro Nation Detroit 2024, the world’s biggest Afrobeats Festival, on “Pistons Home Court,” a Pistons-themed site activation at the two-day event held at Bedrock Douglass Site on Aug. 17-18.
Combining culture and basketball, the “Pistons Home Court” will feature a pop-up basketball court allowing Afro Nation attendees the opportunity to shoot hoops and relive their nostalgic backyard basketball days. The Pistons are also collaborating with six local artists – India Solomon, Conrad Egyir, Daniel Geanes, Rick Williams, Sheefy McFly and Tony Whlgn – to create a distinctive art installation using the iconic PISTONS marquee letters. Each artist will create a painted design on a given letter that embodies the essence of Detroit, basketball and Africa to form a cohesive moment displayed at the activation for festivalgoers to enjoy and take photos with.
“Uniting the rhythm of Afro Nation with the heartbeat of Detroit Basketball, the ‘Pistons Home Court’ activation celebrates the dynamic fusion of sport, culture and art, bringing the spirit of the city and the soul of music together like never before,” said Bilal Saeed, Detroit Pistons Vice President of Brand & Marketing Strategy.
The Pistons will also be presenting select artists with custom Detroit Pistons Bad Boys City Edition jerseys featuring each artist’s home countries’ flags within the number patches. These jerseys celebrate the artists’ diverse origins and symbolize a meaningful connection to Detroit.
“The Pistons are such an important part of Detroit culture, and we are honored to welcome their presence at Afro Nation Detroit,” says Obi Asika, co-founder of Afro Nation. “The new custom jerseys will help foster a connection between the performers and this great city, and embrace the values of individual greatness and competitiveness that Afrobeats and sports share.”
Afro Nation is quickly becoming an institution in Detroit, engaging the community and presenting some of the finest music in the international scene. Uniting the biggest names in Global Black music in a city known for its history of musical innovation, Afro Nation Detroit 2024 will be one of the must-attend festivals of the summer, featuring enough international stars to fill two action packed days in the Motor City.
Saturday features a show-stopping array of African stars, headlined by global hitmaker Rema, Nigerian stalwart Kizz Daniel, Afro-fusion innovator Omah Lay, and ascendant icon Ayra Starr. The fest’s first day also features a performance by Detroit local hero Kash Doll, Detroit singer Charity, newly added to the bill, and South African amapiano aces Uncle Waffles and Musa Keys on the Piano People stage. Sunday rolls out the red carpet for an international all-star team, led by rap legend Lil Wayne, Nigerian crowd-mover Asake, Canadian R&B loverman PartyNextDoor, dancehall queen Shenseea, the smooth-voiced Adekunle Gold, and acclaimed rising artists Amaarae and Ruger. Legendary producers Scorpion Kings headline the Piano People stage, with support from DBN Gogo and many more.
For more information about Afro Nation Detroit 2024, visit detroit.afronation.com.
View images of the Afro Nation Detroit x Detroit Pistons jerseys HERE
Watch the Aftermovie for #AND2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qg75KPxWB4
Keep an eye on Afro Nation US’s Instagram for more updates.
Afro Nation Detroit 2024 is presented by Bedrock and The Malachite Group.
Please contact Michelle, Kevin, Destiny, or T’Keyah for more info.
Background:
Launched in 2019 with critical acclaim by Nigerian creative industry entrepreneurs Obi Asika, and Smade, Afro Nation is the biggest Afrobeats celebration in the world and a fast growing global cultural influence. The brand made waves with events in Portugal, Puerto Rico, and Ghana, crafting events that unite the diaspora and deliver culturally-important music to an underserved audience. Past artists include Burna Boy, Davido, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, Scorpion Kings, Major League DJz and many more. In 2023, Afro Nation hosted its first two festivals in the United States: May’s Afro Nation Miami, headlined by Burna Boy and WizKid, and August’s Afro Nation Detroit, headlined by Burna Boy and Davido. A celebration of African and Global Black music in one of the world’s most historic music cities, Afro Nation Detroit returns in August 2024.
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.
Links:
official site | twitter | instagram
Find more information at afronation.com and detroit.afronation.com