Press
“AFROPUNK became a radical act of self care — a realized demand of safe spaces for people of color.”
“In their 15 years of existence, Afropunk has managed to curate an environment that can only be described as an ethereal, momentary hideaway for black people from all corners and crevices of the diaspora —and this year was no different. The festival explicitly invites folks to come and be who they are, wear whatever they wear, and dance how they dance. It was a blank space to freak out in—and freak out they did.”
“The musicians at AFROPUNK were there not just to sing and rap but to celebrate and give voice to communities of difference. That dual responsibility is exactly what separates AFROPUNK from other run-of-the-mill music festivals in America.”
“It was our first time in New York. It was just such a beautiful experience to come to this festival that’s for black people, by black people, about black people. I felt like I was falling in love every five seconds just looking around. I have never been in this kind of beautiful space before, but it’s such a surreal experience and I’m so glad that I can have it.”
“New heroes like Kaytranada, Sampha, Willow Smith and SZA sit alongside familiar names like Dizzee Rascal, Macy Gray, and Gary Clark Jr in a lineup that challenges the idea of what “black music” is in 2017. With art installations and clothing markets, Afropunk offers a wholly novel and worthwhile perspective on the cultural role of a festival.”