Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
The organisers of Yam Carnival in London, UK, have announced 28 August as the date of the maiden edition, with Afropop star Davido as the headline act.
Produced by Event Horizon, Smade Entertainment and Festival Republic, the event will unfold as “a celebration of black culture from across the globe” and promises to be an immersive experience of culture, food and music, the organisers said.
The inaugural Yam Carnival was initially scheduled for 2020 but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 19 July, however, lockdown regulations have been lifted in London and festivals are expected to be back in full swing this year.
Davido will be joined by fellow Nigerian acts Femi Kuti, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Rema and Omah Lay as well as Ghana’s Stonebwoy and King Promise. Other performers include DRC’s Fally Ipupa and South Africa’s DJ Lag, Culoe De Song, DBN Gogo and Vigro Deep.
The line-up will also see performances by Europe-based acts NSG, Darkoo, Fatoumata Diawara, Pa Salieu, Midas the Jagaban and Ms Banks, as well as Jamaican reggae-dancehall stars Beenie Man and Koffee.
The artists will be performing alongside American songstresses Kehlani and Ari Lennox at the main carnival stage and on the Afrika Shrine stage.
The organisers say the festival will also showcase the best in black electronic music with the Afrotronic stage, which will allow festivalgoers to sample everything from Afro-house, Afro-tech, gqom and amapiano.
The 2021 Yam Carnival will take place at Clapham Common in south London.