Founded in Brooklyn, the annual Afropunk festival made its homecoming stop on the weekend of August 26th. The traveling festival makes stops worldwide to celebrate black culture and art; originally meant to cater to black people involved in the punk life style, it has grown to encompass all the different variations of black culture.
The flagship stop had a notable change this year: a new location. Instead of being held at Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene, the festival was held at Skyline Drive-In in Greenpoint. Though it differed from the traditional festival ground, the location boasted beautiful Manhattan views and a serene waterfront behind its performers.
As promised, the event celebrated black culture in its different forms, not just in music. Some notable features were food trucks with diverse variants of black cuisine, hair care stations with specialized products, and a mini market of black owned businesses that varied from clothing stores to herbal brands. There was also a variety in performance styles; though the main draw were the musicians, acrobats and fire dancers also kept attendees captivated throughout their experience.
However, the most compelling part of the festival is its attendees. Naturally, a celebration of blackness is also a celebration of self-expression, and that was apparent in the wide variety of fashion styles represented. From alternative punk to traditional African styles, it was clear that the event had delivered in its promise of creating a safe space for black people to celebrate their individuality. Afropunk offers an invaluable experience for not just creatives, but all black people: a sense of community, a platform for expression, and a celebration of blackness in all its variations.
Full Photo Gallery by Tiana Timmerburg here:
www.punkagandapress.com/galleries/afropunk-brooklyn-new-york
