Bedrock and Afro Nation, the World’s Largest Afrobeats Festival, to launch Afro Nation Detroit in Summer 2023
The internationally recognized festival celebrating Afrobeats, Black music and culture, has successfully executed festivals in Portugal, Ghana and Puerto Rico, and is preparing for its first festival in Miami this spring.
Bedrock today announced its collaboration with acclaimed global festival brand, Afro Nation, to launch Afro Nation Detroit. The Detroit festival, set for August 19 to August 20, 2023, at Bedrock’s Douglass site, will become Afro Nation’s flagship festival in the U.S., featuring the biggest names in Afrobeats and superstars in Hip Hop, R&B, Amapiano, Dancehall and Reggae.
Expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees each day from around the globe, the flagship U.S. festival will feature additional activations and events to honor Detroit’s musical contributions to the world and highlight its connection to present day American, African and global Black culture and music.
“When considering which U.S. cities would be right for our Afro Nation festival, Detroit was a clear choice. The musical legacy, culture, people and community of Detroit connects to why we started Afro Nation: to celebrate Black music and culture. Our diverse global audience will undoubtedly enjoy the unique Detroit show and appreciate the immense influence of Detroit on the evolution of music,” said Natasha Manley, CEO of Event Horizon.
More than just a festival, Afro Nation Detroit is poised to generate substantial revenue opportunities for many local Detroit businesses, while also providing opportunities to up-and-coming Detroit musical artists, DJs and creatives. Afro Nation’s flagship Europe festival in Portugal, attracts more than 45,000 people each day from over 130 countries, with each guest staying an average of five nights; resulting in an estimated $125 million in direct consumer spending.
“The decision to bring Afro Nation’s world class festival to Detroit was easy. The rich diversity and arts culture in Detroit is self-evident, and the city’s music continues to move the world. We look forward to welcoming a global audience downtown to experience the hospitality, arts and culture of our city. Detroit is Afro Nation,” said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock.
The festival lineup, ticket options and pricing, and detailed event information is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
“From Motown to Techno, Detroit’s musical legacy is undeniable. Serving as the host city for events like Afro Nation is not only part of our DNA, it is an extraordinary opportunity to spotlight our city’s rich culture, talent and character on a global stage. Bedrock and Event Horizon’s commitment to make this event possible is commendable, and I look forward to the launch of Detroit’s newest festival series,” said Hiram E. Jackson, Publisher of the Michigan Chronicle and CEO, Real Times Media.
Additional information on the Afro Nation Detroit festival may be found at Detroit.afronation.com and on social media by following:
- Twitter: @afronation
- Facebook: @afronationfestival
- Instagram: @afronation.us
About Bedrock
Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovative city-building strategies, reaching far beyond the boundaries of bricks and mortar. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties in Detroit and Cleveland, including landmark developments such as the Hudson’s Site, the Book Tower restoration, City Modern and the May Company Building.
Bedrock’s portfolio totals more than 19 million square feet of office, retail and residential space within new construction and adaptive reuse projects.
For more information on Bedrock’s projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Afro Nation
Launched in 2019 with critical acclaim, Afro Nation is the biggest Afrobeats celebration in the world and a fast growing global cultural influence. The festival was founded by Nigerian creative industry entrepreneurs Obi Asika, and Smade, in association with BBC 1 Xtra. The events unite the diaspora and deliver something culturally important to a hugely underserved audience. In 2022, 40,000 music lovers attended Afro Nation Portugal to see the biggest names in Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Dancehall at one of the most beautiful beach locations on the planet – past artists include Burna Boy, Davido, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, Scorpion Kings, Major League DJz and many more. After finishing 2022 with Afro Nation Ghana (Dec. 29-30), Afro Nation is expanding even further in 2023, with Miami 2023, its first-ever festival on the continental U.S.
Visit Detroit is a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metropolitan Detroit area on a worldwide basis as a destination for leisure and business travel including conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues and job opportunities.
More than 700 businesses are represented in Visit Detroit’s membership. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world’s first convention and visitors bureau. visitdetroit.com
