AfroFuture CEO Talks 2023 Festival Headliners And Unifying The Diaspora

AfroFuture is the leading African music festival behind the global movement aimed at uniting the diaspora.

Co-founded by AfroFuture CEO Abdul Karim Abdullah, its evolution from a Ghana-based festival to a full-circle celebration of everything African has helped to increase tourism to the continent, boost the local economy, and reintroduce Black people from all over the world to their roots in the Mother Nation.

Just ahead of the 2023 festival in Accra, Ghana, where Davido, J Hus, and Black Sherif will headline, Abdullah shares how the festival serves as more than just a live music show through its community service initiatives to boost the local economy.

“This year we have Davido, who obviously was just an obvious choice after the last three years. We also have Black Sherif who is also a superstar and just won the BET Award for International Hip Hop Artist of the Year,” Abdullah told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“And then, of course, we have Mr. J Hus, Mr. Ugly back at it again with us, coming to Ghana for the first time to perform. Pretty excited. Jay Hus is like a very big individual outside of the UK. He’s been doing amazing things.”

J Hus was already popular in the UK and saw his fanfare grow after Burna Boy featured his voice at the beginning of his single “City Boys.” Explaining why he used to call himself an “ugly yute,” J Hus has been a forefront figure in helping many Africans and dark-skinned Black people reclaim their confidence and embrace their beauty.

It’s a highlight of AfroFuture’s goal to properly represent African culture to the world.

“That’s just not just for only Black people who are from Africa. This is for Black people around the world. Most times our culture is not the mainstream,” Abdullah said.

“Our culture is not niche to us. And although we appreciate other people because they don’t have an understanding of it, lack that appreciation or understanding of it.”

Abdullah continued. “And that’s why our festival exists. To give people an opportunity to kind of demystify those stories that people have told them about Africa, demystify, you know, the charity looks that we see on the commercials with the kids with the flies and understand that those things do exist around the continent, but there’s also other opportunities and different realities for different people in the countries, within the countries, within the continent themselves, and that differs.”

The road to AfroFuture begins on Monday, Dec. 18. It continues through Saturday, Jan. 2, where attendees will enjoy flagship events and elements in addition to the music festival, including the Afro Expo 2023. This two-week-long expo will host a series of experiences and panel discussions centered around the worlds of culture, technology, health, film, music, and art in Africa.

The Black Ambition Pitch Competition is a one-day entrepreneurship activation, including panels and a pitch competition for African entrepreneurs. The AfroMusic Museum is a visual, musical library-like experience that will transport the audience across time and space.

Other activities include the Rising Star Challenge, AfroFuture x Black Film Space Film Competition, New Year’s Eve Celebration, and AfroFuture Foundation Giveback, which serves as a day of community service throughout Ghana.

Press play below to learn more about AfroFuture 2023 and its plans for expansion in the New Year.