Wizkid, Davido and Wale headline One Africa Music Fest – the “Biggest Afrobeat Concert in America”.
Fifteen of Africa’s biggest musical acts are set to crash the Barclays Center this Friday for One Africa Music Fest. The show, dubbed the “The Biggest Afrobeat Concert in America” features some of the hottest musicians that the Motherland has to offer, all on one stage, with one common goal: to officially introduce the Western World to authentic African sound.
The timing of such an event couldn’t be more ideal as African musicians, especially of late, have begun to feel their influence rock the international music landscape. This impact has led to historic moves that are helping to push the culture forward.
In January, Davido became the first African artist to sign a global record deal with SONY. Wizkid has furthered his commercial success from late 2014 by touring & collaborating with Chris Brown – in addition to combining forces with Drake on his summer hit, “One Dance”. Last month R.E.D album crooner, Tiwa Savage, signed a management/publishing deal with JAY Z’s Roc Nation. And Ayo Jay – who recently inked a lucrative deal with RCA Records – became the first Nigerian act to top the Billboard Hot 100 (sans features) with “Your Number”. The list of monumental moves goes on.
American labels and artists have made it a point, over the last few years, to reconnect with their African roots through sound. In the process they’ve tapped into an emerging market – a continent comprised of millions of dedicated music fans on the front-end of a digital technology explosion.
Africa is now – setting the bar internationally + leading the wave. And an event of this magnitude – in a starving market like New York – is long overdue.
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Can One Africa Music Fest live up to its lofty expectations and prove to skeptics that the continent is ready for big time?
Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster, today!
