AfroFuture

03 Feb 2025

AfroFuture & Bedrock Announce AfroFuture Detroit Festival

AfroFuture, a global entertainment platform dedicated to celebrating the diverse culture and work of the African diaspora, and Bedrock will host AfroFuture Detroit this summer, Billboard can exclusively announce Monday (Feb. 3).

The highly anticipated U.S. debut of the festival will take place on Aug. 16-17 at Bedrock’s Douglass Site, at the corner of Alfred Street and Beaubien Boulevard. According to a press release, AfroFuture Detroit seamlessly blends the rhythms of Afrobeats and amapiano with the iconic sounds of Motor City’s Motown and techno, creating a one-of-a-kind celebration. This festival follows the success of AfroFuture’s flagship event in Accra, Ghana every December.

“We’re thrilled to bring AfroFuture to Detroit for our U.S. debut. As a cultural and musical powerhouse, Detroit is the perfect city to launch this transformative experience,” said Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO/co-founder of AfroFuture, in a statement. “By connecting African excellence with Detroit’s rich heritage, we’re bridging the diaspora across borders and oceans through the universal language of music. This is more than just a typical festival – it’s a moment of unity and a celebration of the power of Africa.”

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Co-sponsored by Bedrock — a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovative city building strategies — and produced by the Detroit-based event planner Paxahau, the inaugural U.S. event will feature performances from Afrobeats, Carribean and hip-hop stars as well as dynamic art installations and a marketplace celebrating the continent’s creativity.

“AfroFuture is an experience built for community, and we can’t think of a better place than Detroit, a city built on its own musical heritage, for its U.S. debut,” added Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner. “Bedrock is proud to bring this universal celebration of Afrocentric art and culture to our Douglass Site, showcasing the creativity, expression and legacy that is true to Detroit.”

Additional information regarding the performance lineup, ticket sales and event packages will be announced soon.

06 Jan 2025

AfroFuture Expands to the U.S. & Unveils 2025 Culture Calendar

Culture Management Group (CMG), the African-focused media management company that oversees AfroFuture and more, unveiled its 2025 AfroFuture Culture Calendar on Monday (Jan. 6).

This year’s calendar features AfroFuture’s first-ever major activation in the United States in August (at an unspecified date), underscoring CMG’s commitment to expanding its platform globally and amplifying African excellence worldwide. The full lineup of events, which can be found below, includes AfroFuture’s Culture Beach Jam series, which celebrates the richness of African heritage with immersive experiences, live performances and innovative programming; and the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Tour, which showcases African excellence in sports and live entertainment.

“We are thrilled to unveil our 2025 AfroFuture Culture Calendar and excited to expand our footprint across the continent. This is a unique opportunity to deepen our connections with the vibrant neighboring communities throughout Africa,” Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO/co-founder of AfroFuture, said in a press release. “Our long-anticipated U.S. expansion marks a groundbreaking moment for Culture Management Group, as we continue to deliver on our promise to showcase Africa’s resilience, strength, and unparalleled talent on the global stage. 2025 will be a year of unforgettable experiences, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Added Akosua Ayim, director of operations at AfroFuture: “AfroFuture’s legacy has grown into a movement that transcends borders. Our 2025 events are a testament to CMG’s mission to celebrate African talent, inspire innovation, and strengthen connections across the diaspora. This year, the world will see the true magic of Africa in ways they have never seen!”

For those interested in any of the BAL events, visit bal.nba.com for tickets. For more information on the Culture Beach Jam series, visit afrofuture-site.webflow.io/events.

See the 2025 AfroFuture Culture Calendar below.

Culture Beach Jam Series

Zanzibar: July 3-7

U.S.: August

Ghana: Dec. 28-29

BAL Tour

Morocco: April 5-13

Senegal: April 26-May 4

Rwanda: May 17-25

South Africa: June 6-14

01 Jun 2023

AfroFuture, Rock the Bells & Sixthman Set Sail for First-Ever AfroCruise

LL Cool J‘s celebrated hip-hop platform Rock the Bells and AfroFuture, a global cultural entertainment platform committed to showcasing African culture through festivals and live performances, will set sail with Sixthman next spring for a celebration of African and diasporic culture for the first-ever AfroCruise, which was announced Wednesday (May 31).

Aboard the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, AfroCruise will take to the high seas from March 29 to April 1, 2024, from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas.

The fully immersive event will feature fashion, food and a lineup of Afrobeats and amapiano artists that will be revealed soon. And in between performances, Afrobeats & Brunch, London’s Days Like This, Positive Vibes Only (PVO), RNB HouseParty and NYC’s No Wahala podcast will host once-in-a-lifetime parties. AfroCruise will also have a jollof competition over different styles of jollof rice from Ghana, Nigeria and other West African countries, as well as a suya pool deck BBQ, diaspora gala, DJ sets, basketball and FIFA video game tournaments and more.

The first round of pre-sale signups are available through Sunday, June 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and they conclude next Wednesday, June 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Public on-sale begins next Friday, June 9, at noon ET on theafrocruise.com.

Experiential partner AfroVerse, which is dedicated to amplifying African culture through art, food and music activations, is also on board for AfroCruise. And later this year, Sixthman, the industry leader in festivals and music cruises, is partnering with Rock the Bells on Rock the Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience to celebrate the genre’s 50th birthday. That cruise is set for Nov. 13-17, traveling from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, to Grand Bahama Island.