TLDR
I sincerely hope in 10 years we can have 'Afro-Punk' in almost EVERY African country and Caribbean Island/Brazil/Latin-American country
We NEED to be 'UNITED'.
- A music fan dances in a mosh pit at the African debut event of the Afropunk music festival hosted at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
- To kick off a Twitter chat on black storytelling and identity with documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, #AfropunkSolutionSessions podcast host Bridget Todd posed a question that she always asks of creatives: "What role do you think arts & culture plays in social change? Can art change the world?"
- In going global in 2015, the Afropunk festival has carried the torch of that black musical tradition and, in doing so, has become a tradition itself.
- While the Afropunk Joburg festival was on pause because of the weather, crowds make their own music, singing freedom songs. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
- While still operating under the radar, the Afropunk culture was an early champion of the Afrocentric aesthetic, connecting indigenous African culture to the punk scene it was reclaiming. It catapulted to the mainstream when national publications scrambled to report on #BlackLivesMatter and a facet of society long overlooked. That year, images of the concert went viral and brought new life to Afropunk's claim of "defining culture" of the "other black experience." Suddenly, blackness was cool again. In curating alternative black music, art, photography and Web series on its website and throughout social media, it largely defined the changing tide of black representation in mainstream American culture over the next four years.
- One woman from Chicago went to Paris to attend the Afro-Punk there.
- Afropunk is the ancient future. People are being who they want to be without inhibition. It's a royal existence to truly live who you are.
I sincerely hope in 10 years we can have 'Afro-Punk' in almost EVERY African country and Caribbean Island/Brazil/Latin-American country
We NEED to be 'UNITED'.Afropunk Brings The 'Black Lives Matter' Ethos Abroad
September 04, 2018 | NPR
BY
MELISSA BUNNI ELIAN
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A music fan dances in a mosh pit at the African debut event of the Afropunk music festival hosted at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
To kick off a Twitter chat on black storytelling and identity with documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, #AfropunkSolutionSessions podcast host Bridget Todd posed a question that she always asks of creatives: "What role do you think arts & culture plays in social change? Can art change the world?"
She offered an example of a creative catalyst.
"Color of Change is like an advocacy organization," she said of the nonprofit civil rights group. "They work in culture, art, music, movies, but they're trying to shift politics and bring social change through art and that's ... radical. We act like art, music, film is not important, [that] it's just a diversion from real issues. I don't think that's how we live our lives, so I just like to remind people that culture can change minds. I think that we have that tradition as black and brown people. Creativity is powerful if you harness it correctly."
At left, 31-year-old Melia attended her first Afropunk event last year in Paris. "It's nice to meet people from everywhere. It's another way to look at Africa." At right, South Africa had its own festival to close out 2017. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
Cousins Mpho Rantao, 21, (left) and Ntaoleng Mokotini, 21, apply makeup in preparation for the Afropunk Joburg event later that day. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
"Before 1994, survival was all about assimilating," explains Kitso Rantao, who now wears her hair naturally and had it braided for Afropunk Joburg. Straightening hair, speaking English or Afrikaans without an accent, and doing other things to remove oneself from their blackness is still seen as necessary for success. Image by Melissa Bunni Elia. South Africa, 2017.
Black music has a deep legacy of influence on global culture. Whether through jazz, blues, funk, rock, disco and hip-hop, African-Americans have been invoking the creative power Todd speaks of. Jazz spread the ideals of black nationalist Marcus Garvey, and gospel blues put forth ideas of civil rights to great effect in places like South Africa. There's already an imprint on the stage of world history.
In going global in 2015, the Afropunk festival has carried the torch of that black musical tradition and, in doing so, has become a tradition itself.
NPR sat down with Todd after she hosted an in-person Solution Session at Brooklyn Academy of Music theater before the start of Afropunk 2018.
Rain can't dampen the spirits of Afropunk Joburg attendees. They continue to dance as rain begins to fall in Johannesburg in December. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
Many Afropunk Joburg attendees stayed put throughout the storms that threatened to cut the concert short. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
While the Afropunk Joburg festival was on pause because of the weather, crowds make their own music, singing freedom songs. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
While still operating under the radar, the Afropunk culture was an early champion of the Afrocentric aesthetic, connecting indigenous African culture to the punk scene it was reclaiming. It catapulted to the mainstream when national publications scrambled to report on #BlackLivesMatter and a facet of society long overlooked. That year, images of the concert went viral and brought new life to Afropunk's claim of "defining culture" of the "other black experience." Suddenly, blackness was cool again. In curating alternative black music, art, photography and Web series on its website and throughout social media, it largely defined the changing tide of black representation in mainstream American culture over the next four years.
German fashion stylist Cedric, 29, planned on bringing home his experience at Afropunk Fest Paris 2017. "I'm so proud of my color and now I am more proud. I am sad it is finished, but every good thing finishes. Now we are going to do this in Germany." Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
Afropunk was an early supporter of Awkward Black Girl, which eventually elevated Issa Rae, the creator of Insecure, an HBO show. When creating costumes for Black Panther, designer Ruth E. Carter cited the fashions of Afropunk as one of her inspirations.
"Without Afropunk, I wouldn't have a career," said Janelle Monáe, the critically acclaimed actress and singer.
"Tonight is all about celebrating what is unique about ourselves, no matter who the f*** it makes uncomfortable," the four-time festival veteran yelled out to a cheering crowd.
We needed something like this. Even though there is a difference between our countries, the need for the [festival] is the same.
-Malika, July 2017
Since becoming the darling of cultural publications and blogs, Afropunk has garnered a global following, exporting its weekendlong celebration of unapologetic blackness to Paris, London and now Johannesburg, where such events are rare. The music festival has grown to the level of cultural institution, and it's connecting the African diaspora.
Fanta (left) came from Chicago to attend the Afropunk festival in Paris last summer. "It's a royal existence to truly live who you are," she said. Thuto Vilakazi, 16, visited his grandmother so he could attend the Afropunk Solutions Sessions that were held before the festival's debut on the continent of Africa, in late 2017 in Johannesburg. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
With its political podcast, Solution Sessions and other initiatives, Afropunk is evolving to define the problems that affect black people around the world and may prove to be as influential as it's predecessors.
Afropunk is the ancient future. People are being who they want to be without inhibition. It's a royal existence to truly live who you are.
-Fanta, July 2017
Over time, Afropunk has expanded its definition of punk to include all forms of black identities, because while it trumpets that being black is being punk, not everyone agrees.
In expanding, it has gained critics. Since introducing fees in 2015, many early supporters have been priced out. And punk purists correctly point out what they see as the deterioration of Afropunk's DIY and raw spirit, in favor of R&B and hip-hop and bending to capitalism. While these critiques are warranted and in need of redress, this nostalgia misses out on the fact that Afropunk connects the past to the present and continues a black tradition that predates punk, yet is just as rebellious.
Tumi Tsele, 19, attended Afropunk Joburg. "We have plenty of festivals about our heritage, but I've never seen so many young people celebrating blackness at this scale." Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
As the photos in this gallery from around the world show, Afropunk is already having an impact spreading political ideals and social attitudes beyond U.S. borders. As Bridget Todd suggests, the power of connecting social change with culture is what Afropunk is harnessing
Afropunk is inspiring, the color of our skin, dressing only with hair ... It's amazing to see how people react.
-Archibald, July 2017
A mural illuminates an intimately lit lounge area at the Afropunk London festival in July. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
After waiting for the Afropunk Joburg festival to restart, the attendees who stuck it out in the rain are ready to keep the party going. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
"Aretha Franklin was a singer. She was also a civil rights leader," Todd said. "That is part of our legacy and I think it's so easy to be like 'oh music, that's just something you do when you're done with work.' It can be both."
In Paris last summer, Malika, 23, (left) says of the Afropunk festival: "It's a safe place. Anyone can really express themselves." At right, Archibald, 26 — with Mariame, 24 — says, "Afropunk is inspiring, the color of our skin, dressing only with hair ... It's amazing to see how people react." Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
Those who waited out the rain in Johannesburg in December celebrate at Afropunk. Image by Melissa Bunni Elian. South Africa, 2017.
Afropunk Brings The 'Black Lives Matter' Ethos Abroad
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