5.29.2022
Afro Nation Miami: Sunday Recap
Wizkid Closes America’s Biggest Celebration of Global African Music and Culture, Headlining a Star-Studded Night Featuring Rema, Fireboy DML, Sech, and More
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
THE RECAP:
One of the fastest-rising global genres, Afrobeats finally has a proper home in the United States with Afro Nation. Afro Nation’s first event in the US, this weekend’s Afro Nation Miami, which concluded on Sunday, was an ecstatic celebration of the genre, African culture, and Black music of all kinds, featuring an array of the world’s biggest stars. Fans from all over the globe turned out in droves, waving flags and loudly singing along with their favorite hits.
The second day of Afro Nation Miami brought unbeatable star power to loanDepot Park, with production value to match. Appropriately, the night ended with a performance by the Starboy himself, Wizkid, whose energetic and celebratory set, which dug deep into his decade-long catalog of bangers. The performance was highlighted by a rendition of global top ten hit “Essence” and a guest appearance from BNXN on “Mood.” Earlier in the night, Miami welcomed dazzling sets from two of Nigeria’s biggest rising stars: Rema and Fireboy DML. Rema lit up the stage with hits like “Calm Down” and “Woman,” while Fireboy’s widescreen African pop music proved to be a perfect fit for a stadium setting.
Before the sun set, an undercard of extremely talented artists rewarded fans willing to brave the heat. Panamanian reggaetonero Sech displayed his stunning musicality, playing piano and strutting his stuff with a squadron of dancers at his back. Nigerian riser BNXN led the crowd in rousing renditions of hits like “Finesse” and “Kenkele,” before welcoming rising star Libianca to perform her Hot 100 hit “People.” Dancehall queen Shenseea, who later joined Fireboy DML onstage, cooked up some bangers to inspire feverish dancing in the summer swelter. Meanwhile, the Piano People stage spotlighted the ascendant South African genre of amapiano, featuring genre heavy-hitters like Major League Djz, Kama Mphelo, and DBN Gogo.
Now firmly established on American shores, Afro Nation aims to keep expanding, and continues to deliver an event joyous, spectacular, and celebratory enough to give Afrobeats a proper home. Afro Nation’s next stop? Afro Nation Detroit, hitting the Motor City on August 19-20, 2023.
Stay tuned for more announcements about Afro Nation Detroit and more, and follow Afro Nation U.S. on Instagram for in-the-moment updates.
View photos of Afro Nation Miami 2023 (please credit all photos to Afro Nation / @photographer):
Saturday: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mhxuctl8bxioqf0/AAAr4IpYSvHKjbFJ3Qo-fZ0Ra?dl=0
Sunday: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2nfag4yzppbpb2i/AADLFSzgXTJ1Fi_cRYEeRCESa?dl=0
For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kevin, Destiny, or T’Keyah
WIZKID:
Starboy shuts it down like only he can, playing hits from More Love Less Ego, Made In Lagos, and more
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
REMA:
The “Calm Down” hitmaker shows why he’s an ascendant superstar (Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @shaunllewellyn)
FIREBOY DML:
Fireboy travels from “Peru” and back as he lights up the stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
Fireboy brought Shenseea back onstage as a special guest (Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
SHENSEEA:
Dancehall queen Sheensea cooks up a sizzling set (Credit: Afro Nation / @shaunllewellyn)
SECH:
A superstar who impresses with his deep musicality, Sech hails from reggaeton’s home country of Panama (Credit: Afro Nation / @a_ciggs)
BNXN:
The rising star draws from his growing bag of hits, leads a sing-along of “Finesse”
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
BNXN performed with rising star Libianca (pictured), whose hit “People” continues to climb charts
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
MAJOR LEAGUE DJZ:
The Amapiano duo headlined the Piano People stage (Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
DBN GOGO:
South Africa’s DBN GoGo is one of Amapiano’s most promising rising DJs
(Credit: Afro Nation / @a_ciggs)
FRANKGLISH:
The star French rapper (of Congolese descent) struts his stuff at loanDepot Park
(Credit: Afro Nation / @shaunllewellyn_)
TXC:
South African duo TxC shut it down on the Piano People stage
(Credit: Afro Nation / Kenneth Dapaah)
SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:
The crowd at the Piano People stage (Credit: Afro Nation / @a_ciggs)
(Credit: Afro Nation / Kenneth Dapaah)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @mel.visuals)
(Credit: Afro Nation / @chrisallmeid)
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
“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
“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, with Miami 2023, its first-ever festival on the continental U.S.
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