TRENDING WITH MS TRE

Peter Lentini Presents 13th Annual Ankara Fashion & Music Festival Los Angeles

Headlined by Yemi Alade and Wande Coal
 
The largest African cultural festival in the U.S. returns on September 2 – 4. 2022 Labor Day Weekend, showcasing African fashion designs and music artists
 

Africa’s hottest talents will converge in Los Angeles on Labor Day Weekend to crank up the heat with style and performances from chart-topping artists at the 13th Annual Ankara Fashion & Music Festival Los Angeles (AFLA). The three-day event, hosted by Nigerian actor and comedian Seyi Brown, will feature art, African fashion designers, performances, and music artists that are some of Africa’s finest cultural representations.

The Ankara Fashion & Music Festival Los Angeles is the largest African cultural event in the U.S. This year's event will have an array of musicians, artists, actors, dignitaries, fashion designers, and entertainers with African roots, including: Yemi Alade (Afrobeats Singer, Songwriter, and Actress), Wande Coal (Afrobeats Singer and Songwriter), Titi Lokei (Afrobeats Music Artist), Nola Ade (Nigerian American Music Artist), Nadia Mukami (Kenyan Music Artist), Ada King (Afropop Artist), Super Model Nyakim Gatwech (“The Queen of Dark” AFLA Red Carpet Host), Njeri Karago (Kenyan Consulate), Mame Mbaye (Senegal Consulate), Robert Sichinga Jnr. (Zambian Consulate), Salie Rayhana (South African Consulate), and Grant Arthur Gochin (Honorary Consul of Togo).

 

The AFLA was founded by renowned AfroBeats DJ Peter Lentini who was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Lentini is a self-made American success story, who for the last 15 years has been delivering an eclectic mix of entertainment with event production and concerts around the world featuring African artists. Lentini created the Ankara Fashion & Music Festival Los Angeles to build a social landscape for African cultural pride in the U.S. and foster entrepreneurship by providing greater visibility of African artists from multiple industries.

 

"This is a very exciting time to coalesce around African culture and artists. The spread of Afrobeats, which is now a part of mainstream music, is just one example of how Africa's influence on American culture is undeniable. This festival will continue to highlight the uniqueness of African music, fashion, and entertainment with some of the best artists from Africa," said Lentini.

 

The three-day festival kicks off Sept. 2 and ends Sept. 4. Opening night will feature a headline performance from Wande Coal at Catch One. The second day will be an African Marketplace Pop-Up, of vendors and Afrobeats Day Party beginning at 2 p.m. at The Fountain LA. Closing night will be at Exchange LA, which includes a Red Carpet event at 3 p.m. and features a runway fashion show with live African music beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a live performance by Nigerian Singer Yemi Alade at 8 p.m.

 

Celebrities confirmed to attend and walk the red carpet: Folake Olowofoyeku (CBS series "Bob Hearts Abishola"), Bayo Akinfemi (CBS series "Bob Hearts Abishola"), Sammi Rotibi (Actor "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"), Yinka Rythmz (Music Artist) Fanatic aka Billie Lennox (Grammy Award Winning Multi-Platinum Record Producer), Isaac C Singleton Jr (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), Jimmy Jean-Louis (“Claws” TV Series and S.W.A.T"), and many more.

 Venue Locations:

Catch One: 4067 West Pico Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90019

The Fountain LA: 2889 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Exchange LA: 618 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

 

For more information about the festival and to register for the event, visit AnkaraFestival.org and follow on Instagram and Facebook @Ankarafestivals.

BET announces the return of “BET Hip Hop Awards” to Atlanta, GA, on Friday, September 30, with the broadcast premiere airing Tuesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET. The annual celebration will bring together the hottest names in hip hop to pay homage to the best in hip hop culture. The BET “Hip Hop Awards” reigns as one of the top three cable award shows for Black viewers of 2021 (BET Awards (#1), Soul Train Awards (#2), and BET Hip Hop Awards (#3)* and ranks in the Top 10 for most social cable awards in the last 12 months.** The official “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2022 nominations, selected by a voting academy of esteemed music industry insiders, performers, and presenters are to be announced at a later date. BET will work closely with Fulton County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

“From reflecting the diversity of self-expression to empowering and connecting communities to effect positive change at a global scale, hip hop continues to be an art form that dominates all aspects of culture,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “We can’t wait to be back in Atlanta to bring hip hop’s luminaries together as we celebrate us authentically and apologetically. We have so many surprises in store!”

Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show and Co-Executive Produce for BET with Jamal Noisette, VP,Specials & Music Programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of the 2022 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS” along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.

For more information about the “BET Hip Hop Awards” including the latest news and updates, visit bet.com/hiphopawards

PRESS RELEASE: BET