It’s that time of the year, Detty December is here! So why are festivals like Afro Nation important? We asked Eddi Kadi

It’s that time of the year again, when all roads lead to Africa, for what is fondly termed ‘Detty December’. A festive period where African city hot spots like Lagos and Accra come alive with music, arts, culture, and entertainment, and thousands of people from across the Diaspora flock back to their ancestral homes. 

My first Detty December was in Accra last year, 2021/2022, although it was relatively clean *wink wink*  I had the absolute time of my life! There is something incredibly special about Ghana in December, there were so many festivals, parties, pop-ups, and exhibitions to indulge in, accompanied by the warm sun, sweet food, and welcoming people. It’s really no surprise then that Ghana, Accra was the first-ever location for Afro Nation’s Africa residency, which debuted in 2019 and is being hosted in the world-famous Black Star Square, a national treasure commissioned by the legendary figure and Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah to celebrate the nation’s independence. 

Similar to my first Detty December, I also vividly remember my first Afro Nation and being in absolute awe of the breadth of diversity, richness, and beauty of the Black African Diaspora. Everywhere I went my ears were serenaded by our voices speaking languages from across the world, it was truly beautiful. And yet, it was one common thing that brought us all together, our music. I can remember how heartwarming it was to be a part of that homecoming experience, despite us being gathered together on European lands. Therefore, with Afro Nation being also held in Ghana, I can only imagine the cultural significance for those traveling to the continent, perhaps for the first time, to (re)connect with the cultures that have shaped the music, arts, and identity of so many across the globe. To get a better understanding of the significance of key cultural events like Detty December and Afro Nation, I spoke to Eddie Kadi, a presenter, host, comedian, and long-reigning supporter and ambassador of African Music.

How and why did you get involved with Afro Nation Festival?

I got involved with Afro Nation because I believed it was something really innovative. I had been engaged in African music and Afrobeats for so long, and so I had been waiting for Diasporans to come together in one place and celebrate the culture. Usually, everything happens in relatively isolated spaces, either there’s a festival in the UK or a concert in France, but this was a festival that took place in quite a neutral country, bringing all the Diaspora together.

When it first came out, there was lots of talk about it being ‘too good to be true’, and questioning whether or not people could really come from all over the world to celebrate Afrobeats. So yeah, it was really special seeing artists who are usually limited to certain stages or regions being given the opportunity to be celebrated on such a massive stage. So yeah, when I heard the idea I knew I had to be a part of this journey.

Honestly, that first Afro Nation in Portugal was absolutely incredible! Hearing all the different languages being spoken and coming across such diverse visions of blackness was beautiful. In your opinion, what value do festivals like Afro Nation hold?

They’re platforms that allow the culture and the scene to shine on another level. Usually, when people think of African music, it always feels restricted to a level, stage, or certain demographic, whereas with festivals like Afronation, it just means we don’t have to beg to be on stages.

There was a time when Burna Boy was upset because despite being one of the largest artists in Africa at the time, his name was put in small letters on a festival line-up. Hence the name African Giant. Whereas, in reality even though he’s an African artist, he is exactly that, an African Giant and therefore deserves the same level of recognition. African artists are just as capable of putting on high-level shows and draw-in massive crowds. So yeah, having our own festivals just gives us confidence and assurance that we don’t need to beg to be on other stages other than our own.

What do the future of African music and creative culture look like?

I think we are the future, and we’re already living in it. Everything that we’re seeing now isn’t new. If you go back several decades to the Fela Kutis of this world, Miriam Makeba, King Sunny Ade, Awilo Longomba, etc, they’ve performed around the world, influencing music and culture. So now, this is our generation’s time to take it one step further, with the help of tools such as social media, etc. So yeah, the future is in safe hands, the opportunities are endless and the continent is starting to collaborate and integrate more and more. There are so many different sounds coming through from Ivory Coast, to congo, to South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, etc. African music isn’t just “afrobeats” anymore, it’s RnB, it’s Jazz, Rock, and whatever else we want to be, we cover it all.

Yes! We really are our ancestor’s wildest dreams come true! Music is so powerful, and it’s great as over the years Africa has been heavily drawn on for its raw export trade and labor. Whereas, now we’re remembering the value of our cultural economy. Do you see today’s music as being able to transform the political, economic, and social landscape of Africa?

One of the biggest exports that came out of the African continent last year was African Music and so I definitely think we’re heading the right way. We’re seeing more African artists become ambassadors of their lands, flying the flag, creating tourism opportunities, and more. We’re seeing greater interchanges between the diaspora in the west and those on the continent with music playing a massive part in that connection and union. So yeah, beyond entertainment, I definitely believe music’s impact will be high and wide. It’s going to be the number 1 export coming from our countries, 100%.

Finally, who are 5 new or emerging artists you’re really excited about?

Black Sherif from Ghana, for sure he’s gonna do amazing stuff. Zuchu from Tanzania, she’s a fantastic artist. Nikita Kering from Kenya, she’s too good! She killed it when we did Afrobeats Concierto for BBC1 Xtra. Innoss B from Congo. He’s amazing, and because he’s able to sing in so many languages from English to French, Swahili, and Lingala, he’s definitely one to watch. There’s also Bayanni, he’s sick and one of the latest artists from Don Jazzy’s camp. But yeah, there are artists coming out of everywhere and they’re absolutely amazing

Limited Tickets for Afro Nation are still available here