Afro Nation Miami Day 1: Burna Boy Kicks Off Afro Nation’s First U.S. Event with a Bang

Afro Nation is the world’s largest celebration of Afrobeats and African culture, uniting the diaspora under the banner of excellent music. Fans from all over the globe flocked to loan Depot Park for Afro Nation Miami, the festival brand’s first-ever event in the continental United States. With the stadium roof open and the good vibes flowing, the sold-out first day of the event was a smashing success.

Performing in front of 20,000 fans, African giant Burna Boy brought the house down, playing hits from his 2022 album Love, Damini, and earlier classics, welcoming special guest Black Sherif, the Ghanaian drill phenom, and closing the evening with a rousing, crowd-assisted version of “Last Last.” Asake shined in a spotlight set of his own, leading the crowd in energetic sing-alongs of his Mr. Money With The Vibe cuts, and Black Sherif performed a set of his own. Dancehall veteran Mavado, Nigerian riser CKay, and French singer Dadju lifted spirits earlier in the day from the main stage.

BURNA BOY – Photo Courtesy of Afro Nation / @CHRISALLMEID

Folks looking to dance found an energetic outlet at the Piano People stage, sponsored by Audiomack. The first stage at an Afro Nation festival to spotlight the ascendant South African electronic genre of amapiano, the Piano People stage found notable names like Uncle Waffles, Musa Keys, and Focalistic spinning gold out of shaker intros and log drum breaks.

On Friday night, Afro Nation kicked the weekend off right with an official pre-party at the Oasis Wynwood, a spacious outdoor event space in the heart of one of Miami’s most storied neighborhoods. DJs like Walshy Fire, Chromatic, and Silent Addy set the vibe with Afrobeats, amapiano, dancehall, rap, and R&B hits.

During breaks in the action, fans enjoyed themselves at sponsored lounges and the African food truck courtyard outside. CÎROC featured its newest flavor, Honey Melon, at festival bars, while Hennessy sponsored two of the festival’s VIP lounges: the sky terrace, and the Recess Lounge.

Stay tuned for a recap of Afro Nation Miami’s star-studded Sunday, headlined by Wizkid and featuring performances by Rema, Fireboy DML, and more, and follow Afro Nation U.S. on Instagram for in-the-moment updates.