My AFRO NATION EXPERIENCE - Detroit 2024

Afro Nation sign

When I was envisioning going to Afro Nation, I always thought it would be in Portugal because I know Portimao, have been there several times so it would have been a full circle moment for me. But, let’s be real, living in Canada made the U.S. edition way more affordable, so Detroit it was! This year marked Afro Nation Detroit’s second go-round, and VIP tickets were only about $200 CAD—almost half the price of Portugal’s. How could I resist that? Sure, there’s no beach, and my African-European people weren’t there, but how could I say no to this lineup: Asake, Rema, Ayra Starr, Rema, Shenseea and many more!

If you know Afro Nation, you know they always have no-shows. And yes, Detroit wasn’t an exception. Day 1? No Omah Lay. Day 2? A triple letdown with Amaarae, Adekunle Gold, and Lil Wayne missing. That’s a lot of canceled artists for one festival!

The frustrating part? The lack of transparency. Afro Nation definitely knew about these no-shows beforehand but didn’t tell us. Without replacements, the delays threw off the festival’s timing. Only a few hours before gates opened, they announced the delays, but then they kept changing start times! The result? A packed crowd stuck waiting at the entrance. It was chaotic both days. AN’s organization could definitely improve their planning and communication.

Crowd at the gate - waiting for the doors to open

Thank goodness for VIP tickets! They seriously improved our experience. The VIP section had food trucks, bathrooms, and a direct view of the stage. We skipped long food lines and got to see artists up close. I’d say skip General Admission because GA was placed so far from the stage, and only those pressed up against the VIP barrier could really see or hear anything. No extra speakers or screens for the GA crowd meant that moving around or going for food was practically impossible without losing your spot.

Food-wise, they brought their A-game with lots of African food trucks. You could find all the classics like puff puff, jollof rice, bissap, and plantains. Afro Nation had its own bar and merch store, too, and I have to say, with the three experience levels (GA, VIP, Golden), their business model is pretty smart. Despite the mishaps, people are so hungry for African music that they still show up to AN. 

How were the Afro Nation performances? Most of the artists who came crushed it! Ruger was fantastic, performing all his songs live, even doing some acapella. Shenseea brought dancers and her DJ, and her voice was gorgeous! I’d see her live again for sure. Ayra Starr also delivered a solid hour-long set. King Promise was the only one who lipsync. As for Lil Wayne, I was there for the African artists, so his absence wasn’t a big deal for me, but some fans were really disappointed since AN kept teasing his appearance till the end.

All in all, I’d give Afro Nation Detroit a solid 7. It was fun, but the organizers really need to lock in their artist commitments. Four cancellations at one festival? That’s a bit much. Would I go again? Maybe. 

How was your Afro Nation experience compared to mine? Check out my IG to see more Afro Nation performances!