Afropunk Brooklyn 2019: Fun, Raunchy, Eclectic

2019’s Afropunk Festival Brooklyn, held on August 24 and 25 at Commodore Barry Park, was an abundance of pure vibes. One word to describe this two-day music festival? Brooklyn! From the performances to the vendors to the fashion statements, it was apparent, while standing on line, that a festive experience was ahead. The park’s entrance, beautifully decorated by a canopy of trees, set the mood with the warmest of invitations. People were greeted by a variety of Afro rhythms as they gracefully strutted down the imaginary runway. Brooklyn most definitely showed up and turned out with fashion genuinely representing the city’s flavor. Creative, fun, raunchy, eclectic, and very Afrocentric, there were so many wonderful moments.

Leon Bridges / photo by Kyra Kverno

On day one, Tierra Whack was all for the crowd interaction as a young fan jumped on stage to dance and hype the rest of the crowd up. And just when everyone thought the performance was over, Alicia Keys appeared on stage to bring in a song with Whack. Keys finally graced us with her classic hit “If I Ain’t Got You.”

Gary Clarke Jr. was such a delight to hear as he gave us some Van Hunt mixed in with a little Hendrix. Nao made an appearance with her sweet voice and chill vibes. It was the perfect musical choice right before everyone’s favorite: Jilly from Philly. Jill Scott looked absolutely amazing while rocking a royal red dress. Of course, the crowd adoringly sang every word as she had intimately requested. Scott performed hits s

Jill Scott / photo by Kyra Kverno

uch as “Whatever” and “Is It the Way.” Her performance was the epitome of class and vocal expertise.

Day two created an energy slightly different from the previous day but equally as positive. DJ/producer LSDXOXO conjured the true Afropunk spirit and had everyone headbanging. As the chants flooded the park, people came rushing from all directions to see what the commotion was about. Lianne La Havas mellowed things back down and blessed us with her angelic vocals and beautifully written lyrics.

Santigold / photo by Kyra Kverno

Santigold’s set was pure gold (pun intended) as was her hair and outfit. She was truly dedicated to giving her audience the ultimate concert experience as she let her fans jump on stage. There wasn’t a single still moment as audience members broke out into movement with one another.

Following Santigold, Jersey music specialist Uniiqu3 served major swag and brought out some dope dance talent while she spun all the latest tunes. What made this DJ set super special was the spotlight on the dancers as a group and individually.

FKA Twigs/ photo by Kyra Kverno

As night two began to cool down, FKA Twigs came through to end Afropunk on a fiery note. She gave Brooklyn the perfect clash of soft, sweet, edgy, sensual, and theatrical. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that she is also a gifted dancer. If you don’t know, you need to get into it.

And finally…the vendors! Several black-owned shops came out to represent the culture, selling African-inspired clothing, jewelry and such. One vendor, Sajata, stopped by with her skin-care company, Cocolene. And let me tell you that her products, which contain very natural ingredients, are absolutely wonderful.

Most importantly, Afropunk is an activist tool used to put an end to the “isms.” It is a free love event that discourages racism, sexism, and all other forms of prejudice. So if you missed it this year, don’t worry. This is an annual event and 2020 promises to be better than ever.