Afropunk

AFROPUNK THE TAKEOVER BRIXTON || VARIOUS VENUES, BRIXTON
SATURDAY 1ST SEPT – SATURDAY 8TH SEPT 2018

A global institution recognised as a triumph of diversity, celebrating multiculturalism and heritage in the music world for over 14 years, NEW YORK, ATLANTA, JOHANNESBURG and PARIS are all now home to global AFROPUNK events. Now entering its third year, AFROPUNK London has evolved with a community focus, to a week-long Brixton takeover. From September 1st – 8th, AFROPUNK descends on South London’s eclectic hub. Embrace, discover and experience – there’s a plethora of arts, culture and music offerings, plus mind-expanding talks, food, fashion and the return of Battle of the Bands. 
– MUSIC –
Championing a vast array of sounds and influences, AFROPUNK THE TAKEOVER : BRIXTON showcases budding talents, local breakthrough artists and collectives, alongside global artists. Plus, Arts Council Funded Battle of the Bands is live and accepting submissions!
If you’re ready to take it to the next level, enter now. http://afropunkfest.com/london/battle-of-the-bands/
 
Friday 7th September is a must for club ready party people – with classic hip-hop, house, rap, soul, jazz, afro beats and more in store. With Garage godfather DJ SPOONY, JAZZIE B. Plus, BBZ, BORN N BREAD (NTS), RECESS and more. A melting pot of sounds, it’s good-times guaranteed. Tickets: http://bit.ly/BTbrixtonelec
 
Saturday 8th September sees jazz, hip-hop and r&b marry rap, poetry and grime, promising food for thought at O2 Academy Brixton. Headlining the show is US hip-hop supergroup August Greene (Robert Glasper, Common, Karriem Riggins). LAURA MVULA joins, for a super-special guest performance alongside August Greene; eyes peeled for more guests still to come. Truly embodying the AFROPUNK spirit, poet, scholar and activist, AKALA will also perform, plus BAKAR, SHABBA and RECESS.
 
Produced in association with Metropolis Music, with more very special guests still to be announced, don’t sleep on this.
 
–  TALKS, FILM AND ART –
Setting up for a full Brixton takeover, there’s a lot more to find and do, too. Monday 3rd September marks the beginning of a week-long Art Exhibition in the 198 Gallery. All roads lead to the Ritzy on Thursday 6th September, as Apples and Snakes host some of the best Black British poets and spoken word artists on the scene for a night of explosive poetry, spoken word and music. Plus, the festival’s Black in the Day exhibition looks through the history of AFROPUNK in Black Cultural Archives; a one-of-a-kind venue dedicated to preserving, collecting and celebrating Black heritage. 
Across each night, delve into insightful talks at the Department Store, a host of guest speakers exploring what it means to be Black. Opening the Talks on Monday 3rd Sept, it’s all about Radical Self-care, the stigma around mental health in the black community are just a few issues touched on by mental health professionals, activist and advocates. Explore identity, colorism, feminism with Michaela Angela Davis leading a dialogue on Kinks, Colorism and Colonialism. Safe space promoters, BBZ, and host Kuchenga discuss all things LGBTQIA, protection and resistance with a post-discussion dinner on Wednesday 5th September. Thursday’s talk goes hand in hand with the AFROPUNK Black in The Day installation – eyes peeled for more info. Fridays talk is a two-part exploration of art and commerce, with Black to the Future dealing into creative entrepreneurship and business, and the narratives built through a black lens, led by marketers, journalists, and other creatives. Last but certainly not least the final talk on Saturday 8th September delves into a vital issue – redefining masculinity with a discussion on the dismantling of systemic racial stereotypes to empower communities.
 
– BRIXTON – 
Having previously explored London, AFROPUNK enters Brixton with a week-long multidisciplinary offering of events, talks and exhibitions from 1st-8th September. Shifting towards a rooted, community-centric programme is in line AFROPUNK’s desire to connect through Diaspora; creating bonds between those with a shared mindset. AFROPUNK is proud to descend on South London, a globally recognised hotbed for African and Caribbean societies in the UK Capital.  A thoughtfully curated expansive programme – explore and learn with six talks, and feast your ears and eyes on art exhibitions, installations, live music, DJs, film screenings and more across adored venues, The Ritzy, Pop Brixton, Black Cultural Archives, 198 Gallery, Electric Brixton, O2 Academy Brixton and the Department Store.