“We See You” is the theme for 2019 because the idea is to put people under a banner of acknowledgement in resistance to those who oppose the Afropunk movement (BLURB)
World-renowned festival and movement Afropunk last week announced its star-studded lineup for its critically acclaimed two-day annual celebration, Afropunk Joburg, that is slated for December 30 and 31 at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Headlining the festival this year are Grammy Award-winning singer, Solange Knowles and funk/R&B artist Miguel. Additionally, DMV rapper Goldlink will make his debut on the African continent while his longtime collaborator Masego will bring his trap-house-jazz vibes to the show. Boundary-pushing artist Rico Nasty is expected to get the crowd bouncing with her “Sugar Trap” while Durban-based GQOM duo, Distruction Boyz, are set to bring the house down. Additional acts include Busiswa, Sho Madjozi, Zoë Modiga, Morena Leraba, and Darkie Fiction.
As has become custom, Afropunk has created an annual theme for 2019. “WeSeeYou,”is a message that brings together the Afropunk ideology and the people who support it under a banner of acknowledgment in resistance to those who strive to oppress it.
The festival has expanded to four cities around the world, namely Paris, Johannesburg, London and Atlanta, in the last five years with additional cities on the horizon. Beyond the constellation of large scale live music events and media reach, Afropunk is a worldwide community that is the engine of the global black experience. Afropunk is where the global majority comes to see and be seen, to speak loudly and proudly, to resist and party — but most of all, to make the future.
Continuing with their commitment to the support of South African creatives, Afropunk will debut Sho Madjozi to at their Atlanta festival this year, Muzi at Afropunk Paris, as well as seven South African artists in Brooklyn, including DJ Kenzhero.
Aside from major music talent from across the globe, the festival encompasses the Bites&Beats food experience, Activism Row and the SpinThrift Market, as well as the chance to earn tickets via the Afropunk Army Earn-a-Ticket programme. The build-up to the festival includes a Battle of the Bands, which seeks to unearth new local music talent and gives winners an opportunity to play on the festival stage.
Tickets for Afropunk Jo’burg 2019 will be available from the festival’s official website https://afropunk.com/festival/joburg/tickets/. Prices range from R600 for a daily admission ticket to R1 100 for a general weekend pass while VIP packages are priced at R2 900.