The 2019 Afropunk Joburg Festival was arguably the best instalment of the concert yet, after local and international performers blew audiences away.
Afropunk came back to town this year on the 30th and 31st of December for the third time ever. This time around there would be no last-minute cancellations, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't any drama! Regardless of that, this year's festival was a reminder of everything we love about the festival franchise: diversity, acceptance, black love, and of course, performances from some of the finest musicians on the planet.
The build up to this year's festival was marred by the news that Burna Boy had been axed from the 2019 lineup at the last minute. The news served as a blow to many Burna Boy fans, but can't have been a surprise following the Africans Unite saga. While Oluwa Burna couldn't have been there on the day, however, his presence definitely was as DJs and musicians alike took a moment to pay homage to the African Giant.
The musicians that did make it, however, put on an incredible show.
Day 1:
Day 1 was first and foremost, all about the Yanoz. Okay, the likes of Sho Madjozi, Sjava, Busiswa, Nao and Miguel were all incredible on stage, but their performances were perfectly punctuated by DJ sets from DBN Gogo and Jazzidisciples; both of whom who gave the crowd what they wanted: Amapiano!
Day 2:
If the DJs certainly set the mood on Day 1, then Day 2's selectors failed to live up to the hype. Instead, it was the performers who stole the show as Goldlink and Masego got the crowds dancing and the masses moving. When Solange finally stepped on to the stage, two years after she was originally meant to perform at Afropunk Joburg, the crowds screamed so loud that the ground was nearly vibrating.
In the end, this year's Afropunk festival lived up to its billing and further established itself as one of Africa's biggest festivals.
Read Next: Tweeps Demand Sjava be dropped from Afropunk
Image Credit: www.Afropunk.com