Burna Boy, Stonebwoy to headline Afrochella 2022 in Accra

First held in 2017, Afrochella was founded to celebrate African culture and showcase works by emerging creatives, artists and entrepreneurs across the continent. Last year, the event was headlined by Wizkid.

Burna Boy and Stonebwoy, whose 2022 has been characterised by notable releases and international tours, have been named alongside other big-name Afrobeats acts such as Fireboy DML, KiDi, Ayra Starr, Medikal and DJ Juls, among others.

The organisers say this year’s edition, running under the theme Afrofuturism, will “reflect on the past, explore the future and create a progressive path for the present African diaspora.”

“As we embark on another year of celebrating African culture, Afrochella will bring Afrofuturism to life through our core elements of music, art, fashion and food,” Afrochella co-founder and CEO Abdul Karim Abdullah said. “We will explore the endless possibilities of what Afrofuturism could look like in 2022 and beyond.”

Afrochella co-founder and chief operating officer Kenny Agyapong Jr added: “As one of the most celebrated cultural moments in Ghana, this year we have the exciting challenge of bringing 20 000 travellers to the country. We plan to not only achieve this goal but to make Ghana the premier destination for all travellers around the world.”

Other activities curated for this year’s festival include the Afrochella Expo, which will host a series of digital experiences, screenings and panel discussions on culture, technology, health, sustainability, music and art while connecting the diaspora to industry experts and changemakers. Another is the Rising Star Challenge, which offers emerging artist performance slots at Afrochella as well as cash prizes and a studio session with an acclaimed producer.

The rest are Fashion Night Out, an evening celebrating innovation in African fashion, the Afrochella Music Museum that will treat audiences to live performances, art installations, and digital and printed imagery, as well as the Afrochella Talks series dedicated to discussing African business, music, food and creativity.