By Iminza Keboge
Published December 10, 2017
South Africa is preparing to host a music festival that celebrates black artists over the 2018 New Year’s Eve weekend.
The three-day event known as Afropunk International Festival is expected to bring visitors to the City of Gold from as far away as USA, Nigeria and Kenya.
Afropunk, that traces its origins to AFRO-PUNK, is a 2003 US documentary film that chronicles the loneliness experienced by black fans of punk music and culture.
Among the artists lined up to perform to an estimated 10000 people each day at the city’s Constitutional Hill include Solange Knowles, Anderson, Paak & The Free Nationals, King Tha, Blk Jks, Laura Mvula, The Brother Moves On, Nakhane and Spoek Mathambo, among other established and emerging artists.
RELATED:Swahili Rock Music Launches as African Air Travel Grows
The event that is aimed at increasing the number of visitors to Johannesburg and help position it as a leading, all year round global destination for business, lifestyle, sports and leisure, is scheduled for December 30, 2017 – January 1, 2018.
RELATED:Street Art Invades and Occupies Nairobi Museum
The event is organised by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Gauteng Tourism and Constitution Hill to support local tourism and creative entrepreneurs during a traditionally quiet holiday period.
Since debuting in Brooklyn (New York, USA), Afropunk Festival, that was conceived as a reflection of the diversity of black identity, has been held in Paris (France), Atlanta (Georgia, USA) and London (England). But the event is said to have ‘transcended its moorings in punk to encompass hip-hop, soul, jazz and electronic music.’
