Afro Nation Detroit 2024 was a two-day music festival that brought together top Afro artists across Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, gqom, amapiano and more. Held in the birthplace of Motown and techno, Detroit proved to be the perfect location for this vibrant celebration.
The world’s largest Afrobeats festival took place Saturday to Sunday, Aug. 17-18, at Bedrock’s Douglass Site. This historic venue, formerly the Brewster-Douglass Projects, was the nation’s first federally funded housing project for African-Americans and the former home of legends like Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson.
Afro Nation Detroit showcased a wealth of performances from the Black diaspora, including Rema, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, Kizz Daniel and Michigan native Kash Doll on the main stage. Meanwhile, artists like Uncle Waffles, Musa Keys, Scorpion Kings, DBN Gogo and others kept the party alive all weekend at the Piano People stage. To be honest, there were moments when the Piano stage was even more lit than the main Lit Everywhere stage.
The festival’s opening day faced a rocky start due to weather delays, but once the festivities began, the party didn’t stop until around midnight. DJ Marine kicked things off with an electrifying set, setting the tone for Charity, who brought main-stage energy. King Promise followed, illustrating why he’s the king, delivering a performance that turned the audience into a choir. Rema shut down the day with an unforgettable, fiery performance.
Day 2 saw a significant increase in turnout — if day 1 was full, day 2 was packed. Juls and DJ Marine amped up the crowd upon entry, setting the stage for Ruger, who worked the audience with ease.
When Shenseea took the stage a few minutes later, the crowd erupted, as if they had been waiting their whole lives for this moment. She performed fresh tracks from her new album Never Gets Late Here, followed by Asake, who delivered an animated performance, quite literally bouncing off the walls.
Although Lil Wayne had to cancel due to bad weather in NYC, the festival was still an incredible experience.
Check out the four best main-stage moments.
R&B Meets Afrobeats with PARTYNEXTDOOR
Image Credit: Izzy Nuzzo
PARTYNEXTDOOR delivered the grand finale of his Sorry I’m Outside Tour at Afro Nation Detroit on Sunday. The Toronto native captivated the crowd with fan favorites from P4, including “Lose My Mind” and “Cheers.” Adding to the electrifying atmosphere, PND was surrounded by his dancers, known as Party’s Angels, who added an extra layer of energy to the performance since he mainly stood still.
While Afro Nation is primarily an Afrobeats festival, PARTYNEXTDOOR set the R&B tone for the day, leading up to Asake’s performance.
King Promise Lights Up the Stage
Image Credit: Kenneth Dapaah
King Promise is a fly performer who knows how to captivate a crowd. The international star delivered a dynamic set, performing hits from across his extensive catalog. His energy was infectious as he used every inch of the stage to connect with the audience. No matter what song he performed, the crowd sang along to every word.
Shenseea’s Star Power on Display
In May, Shenseea released her sophomore studio album, Never Gets Late Here, solidifying her status as one of Jamaica’s most promising rising stars. Fresh off launching her Never Gets Late Here North American Tour in Chicago on Aug. 16, she took the stage at Afro Nation.
Shenseea did not disappoint, delivering one of her signature sizzling performances. Her confidence and flair were on full display, as she enchanted the audience with her lyricism and dancing. She effortlessly proved why she’s a superstar.
Ayra Starr Is Dazzling & Dynamic
Image Credit: Christopher Claxton
Ayra Starr was one of the standout stars at Afro Nation, sharing the spotlight with fellow Nigerian superstars like Rema, Asake, Adekunle Gold, Kizz Daniel, Omah Lay and Ruger. She delivered a truly amazing performance, showcasing hit singles as well as tracks from her new album, The Year I Turned 21. Ayra confidently moved across the stage with her dancers, using every inch to connect with the audience.
Her magnetic stage presence was captivating. Not only were her vocals powerful, but she never stopped dancing. The synergy between her, her band and her dancers was evident. We especially loved how each track featured moments where she would hand off the mic and simply dance. This performance highlighted her growing strength as both an artist and a performer. Ayra Starr is a dynamic talent who is truly making waves in the industry.
Audible Treats covered Billboard’s accommodations during Afro Nation Detroit. Billboard previously partnered with Afro Nation on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
