Afropunk Announces M.I.A., Gaika, Sza For First Uk Festival

Afropunk made it's name with a series of events in Brooklyn supporting alternative black musicians. Since starting out in 2013, they have branched out to run festivals around the globe – and 2016 sees the first UK showcase. Taking place in the Alexandra Palace on September 24th, the first wave of acts have been announced, and feature a rare UK performance from M.I.A. Here's the current names;

M.I.A

SZA

WORD SOUND POWER feat Akala, Dreadzone and Don Letts

Benjamin Booker

GAIKA

Ho99o9

Purple Ferdinand

Cakes Da Killa

Vodun

Youth Man

Soulection

NTS Radio

From the Afro Punk PR – Music aficionados have twelve hours of specially-curated programming in store, with heritage acts and fresh talent from dub, reggae, roots, hip-hop, punk, grime, pop genres, plus plenty in-between. Spreading the AFROPUNK message to the UK is M.I.A, with her only London date in 2016 to accompany the long-awaited ‘Matahdatah’ album, plus the UK debut from the first lady of Top Dawg Entertainment SZA, and a spoken word collaboration from Akala, Dreadzone and Don Letts ‘WORD SOUND POWER.’ Ho99o9’s hardcore non-conformist hip-hop, Benjamin Booker’s punk-infused blues, and GAIKA’s tripped-out leftfield sound all feature, plus mellow soul from Purple Ferdinand and raunchy rap from acclaimed artist Cakes Da Killa. Cakes Da Killa also takes the reins on a special coming-out celebration, details to follow. Vodun’s psych-soul experiments are part of proceedings, as well as distinctly British punk from Youthman. LA’s ‘Soulection’ and London’s ‘NTS Live’ are the epitome of the AFROPUNK no-holds-barred music policy, and the partners will have station affiliates from each camp representing.

Tickets for the one day event go on sale on June 16th – grab them direct from the Afropunk website.