KWAITO LEGENDS TROMPIES ADDED TO AFROPUNK JOBURG BILL
BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNERS RED ROBYN (DURBAN) AND IKATI ESENGXOWENI (PORT ELIZABETH) TO OPEN THE FESTIVAL
ON 30 AND 31 DECEMBER
FESTIVAL TO BE HOSTED BY SMASH AFRIKA, CARISSA CUPIDO AND GITOO
AFROPUNK SOLUTION SESSIONS, 28 AND 29 DECEMBER, CONSTITUTION HILL, JOHANNESBURG. ENTRANCE FREE.
THIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FORUM / PODCAST WILL FEATURE:
FOUNDERS OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER GLOBAL NETWORK, ALICIA GARZA AND PATRISSE CULLORS; LGTBI ACTIVISTS THAMI KOTLOLO AND THOKOZANI NDABA
FANS TO EARN FREE FESTIVAL TICKETS BY BECOMING AFROPUNK ARMY VOLUNTEERS ON THE 19TH OF DECEMBER AT CONSTITUTION HILL
Kwaito legends Trompies have been added to the bill at AFROPUNK Joburg. Formed in Soweto in the ’90s, Trompies were central to creating the music and movement known as kwaito, and their repertoire spans over 20 years of hits which are sure to get crowds dancing at the highly anticipated year-end bash in the city of Jozi.
Opening the proceedings on the 30th and 31st of December at Constitution Hill will be the winners of the AFROPUNK Joburg Battle Of The Bands: Red Robyn, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Durban and Port Elizabeth’s Ikati Esengxoweni, the soulful acoustic duo from Port Elizabeth, have won this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wow crowds at the internationally beloved festival.
Red Robyn says, “I entered The Battle Of The Bands because this year I saw that I could take music more seriously and this was a great platform and opportunity to show people what I was about. The final was the largest crowd I ever played to! I am a fan of the AFROPUNK aesthetic and music identity, so I thought if I won, this could be a great way for me to locate more of my audience and people who might respond to the music I am now making. My sound is diverse: I draw predominantly from Rock, Gospel and R&B, and it’s definitely not possible for me to say it’s one genre. So it’s perfect for AFROPUNK, one of the most progressive platforms in terms of amalgamating world views with fashion and music that is pushing boundaries sonically.”
Ikati Esengoweni established their band in Port Elizabeth two years ago, and describe their sound as “alternative and eclectic.” Now they are hitting greater heights thanks to their win in the AFROPUNK Joburg Battle Of The Bands. The duo’s Anam Manyati says, “Our aim is to inspire young Black women and show them that anyone can do this, if they just believe.” Her bandmate Lark Wantu adds, “This has been overwhelming and exciting as we always dreamt of performing at AFROPUNK. This festival is important, as it’s much more than a festival, it’s a movement that celebrates black art and excellence. It’s a platform with a cause and a great global networking tool.”
The theme at the AFROPUNK Joburg festival this year is THE PEOPLE RESIST, a call to action against racism, patriarchy and any form of hate. Trompies, Red Robyn and Ikati Esengxoweni now join the AFROPUNK Joburg line up that features Kwesta, DJ Maphorisa, Thandiswa, Moonchild Sanelly, Phuzekhemisi, Ready D, The Internet, Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Kaytranada, Muzi, Azagaia, YoungstaCPT, Dope Saint Jude, FAKA, BBZ, Big Freedia, Nomisupasta, Automatic Live, Azagaia and BCUC. Anais B, TYGAPAW, K-$, DJ Coco.em, Deniece Marz and Phatstoki will be on the decks. Tickets are available via https://afropunk.howler.co.za/AP2018
This years festival will be hosted by two radio DJs who have pioneered eclectisim and creativity on the airwaves — YFM’s Carissa Cupido and 5FM’s vibrant Smash Afrika — as well as longtime AFROPUNK host, America based Gitoo.
A few days before the music of AFROPUNK Joburg 2018 begins, the people’s forum-turned-critically acclaimed podcast AFROPUNK Solution Sessions, will return to Joburg on the 28th and 29th of December for two nights of live events. Hosted by the veteran American social activist and podcaster, Bridget Todd, AFROPUNK Solution Sessions http://afropunk.com/solution-sessions/ will feature the two founding members of the Black Lives Matter movement, the writers/organizers/public speakers Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza. Also appearing are: South African LGBTI activists Thami Kotlolo and Thokozani Ndaba, amongst others. The Solution Sessions are free and open to the public.
People can RSVP at: https://afropunk.howler.co.za/events/4057
As excitement builds for AFROPUNK Joburg 2018, the festival continues its social impact earned-ticket program. The initiative, called AFROPUNK (AP) ARMY, is part of the AFROPUNK Global Initiative (AGI) and gives fans the opportunity to gain admittance to the iconic festival in exchange for volunteer work and community service. This year’s day of social action and service, 19th December, will be in partnership with Constitution Hill, and in celebration of 22 years of the Constitution of South Africa,
Says CEO of Constitution Hill Dawn Robertson. “We are proud to host the AFROPUNK Festival again and to take courage in the power of the collective – it is only by standing together that we can continue to change the world.”
All of Joburg’s fiercest and brightest have signed up to join AP ARMY for a day of action and service on 19 December 2018. This gathering will serve to unite neighbors and help build stronger community ties with the common goal of authentic urban renewal and revitalization of shared public spaces around the symbolic Constitution Hill site. The day’s activities will include: painting, rubbish and graffiti removal and refurbishing discarded facilities.
The AFROPUNK SOLUTION SESSIONS programming will be presented in collaboration with Red Bull Amaphiko from 12:00 to 17:00 on the 28th and 29th of December.
Special guests for the 2018 conversations include: Two of the co-founders of the American based Black Lives Matter Global Network — artist and organizer Patrisse Cullors, and writer, organizer, public speaker Alicia Garza. Additionally, the SOLUTION SESSION will feature Thami Kotlolo, founder of the Thami Dish Foundation that mentors and educates young LGBTI leaders, LGBTI Theater Activist and performer, Thokozani Ndaba, as well as entrepreneur, host, content creator and self-proclaimed “Mayor of South African street culture,” Frypan. Youth activist, facilitator, and project manager for Africa Matters Initiative, Aluwani Ramarumo.
Black Lives Matter has grown from a hashtag to one of the most influential social justice and resistance movements in the world today. BLMGN is partnering with AFROPUNK Joburg in celebration of the social justice organization’s Fifth Anniversary.
The programming will also feature members of Red Bull Amaphiko Academy (https://amaphiko.redbull.com/en), a platform for social entrepreneurs, which promotes and uplifts people creating change in their communities, connects agents of change with one another, and shares inspiring stories about social change.
Discussion topics will include youth resistance, radical self-care, male and female gender roles and communication, and LGBTQ+ cultural community conversations.
AFROPUNK takes place annually in Paris, Brooklyn, London, Atlanta and, since 2017, Johannesburg. Launched in 2005, the festival revolves around an influential community of young people of all backgrounds, interested in music, art, film, lifestyle sports, fashion, photography and more. They are the influencers, creatives and tastemakers once seen as outsiders, but who now directly affect pop culture.
HIPHOP411 will be there to #WitnessTheDopeness🇿🇦
