planet afropunk 2020: past, present and future is black

As people rally across the world for Black liberation, we are using technology this year to bring together the largest virtual gathering of the worldwide Black creative community in one, curated online space for the first time in our 15-year history. This festival pays homage to the reality that the upheavals we’ve gone through over the course of the year are far from novel; they have been central to the Black experience across space and time, which is recognized in this year’s theme, “PLANET AFROPUNK: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IS BLACK.”  This Black cultural explosion is taking place on October 23-25 and you can RSVP on www.planetafropunk.com to be part of this global celebration.

Our approach to activism and fighting oppression has always been to celebrate Black music, art and culture – and ultimately Black joy because these are all radical. Being Black on planet earth is like science fiction and with the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others, we have seen the pain and trauma of the past resurrected, and all while suffering through a global pandemic. But, as Black people, our unity and creativity are our greatest weapon against oppression and adversity. To convene a global family reunion at this moment in time is essential. 

NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED THE RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP OUR CULTURE ALIVE AND THRIVING.

In creating PLANET AFROPUNK we’ve designed a safe space for you, our community to celebrate and inspire, cry and shout, and to heal and motivate one another. WE ARE GLOBAL, and all across the world we are connecting in sameness and in difference to discover the joy in our Blackness. You can expect music and art, with the opportunity to circulate the Black dollar and support Black-owned businesses, as well as many in-depth conversations. These will all be the foundation of this global community’s three-day virtual reunion.

PLANET AFROPUNK will encourage the continued live interaction, activism and debate on racial justice normally associated with its physical festival. There will be space curated to explore everything from politics and social justice, meditation and Black self-care, through to the trend-setting cultural hot-takes emanating within the Black community. With this year’s festival taking place just ten days before the US 2020 presidential election, the intent of these conversations will be to bring momentum to community engagement, find collective solutions to long-standing issues affecting the Black community and to, most of all, encourage the AFROPUNK community to vote. 

PLANET AFROPUNK will create new ways to experience the next generation of Black creativity, music and culture through the support of this year’s many partners, who will power AFROPUNK’s iconic digital destinations, alongside BOSE, who will be fueling the music for AFROPUNK’S festival on the Pink Stage. This year’s digital destinations include:

Ideaville, powered by Target, will be one of the most exciting and anticipated destinations at PLANET AFROPUNK. With keynote speakers, solution sessions and luminary interviews, Ideaville will empower connections between people, ideas and solutions. With AFROPUNK, Target will spotlight Black voices and stories, while creating a safe space for all of AFROPUNK’s communities, featuring a Black Queer Town Hall and community soap box. 

Bites&Beats, will return this year presented by Grubhub, which will be offering virtual festival-goers access to exclusive experiences and Perks from restaurants across North America. 

Art & Times will create an immersive gallery experience, celebrating hand-picked work from South African artists in collaboration with Esprit, showcasing how unusual and original combinations create something truly unique.

Hair & Beauty Village will explore all of the facets of Black hair through the eyes of creators, innovators, visionaries and artists to manifest conversations, creativity and community. Hair plays a central role in the identity, self-concept and political consciousness of Black people, and Maui Moisture will be powering important conversations on-platform for festival-goers. 

Activism Row will generate discussions on prison reform, the failings of the criminal justice system and the systemic racism and segregation plaguing the school system with Ben & Jerry’s, which is leading the social mission to eliminate injustices in Black communities. Non-profit organization AARP will also be celebrating Black roots and activism through a video tribute and encouraging voter registration. 

Spinthrift Market will feature a curated selection of black owned vendors from around the world. Guests will discover makers and creators across many different product areas including beauty, fashion, wellness, gifts, services and more.  To be a vendor at the upcoming AFROPUNK Online Festival, fill out this form.

IT’S COMPLETELY FREE!

Because of our unique partnerships, PLANET AFROPUNK will be a completely free virtual experience for its entire global audience. Festival-goers will be given an option to donate money to organizations including Black Futures Lab, Color of Change, Movement for Black Lives, Equal Justice Initiative, Fair Count, and The Bail Project among others.

PLANET AFROPUNK’S 2020 line-up will be announced in the coming weeks and will feature headline artists from around the world. The festival will be streamed at PLANETAFROPUNK.com with exclusive content on Facebook Live from October 23 to October 25. Details on how to register can be found at PLANETAFROPUNK.com, sign up now so you don’t miss any exclusives! 

We can’t wait to see the faces, hear the voices and connect the AFROPUNK community – as unique, expressive and unapologetic as it is – to each other. Welcome to PLANET AFROPUNK!