Adekunle Gold and Patoranking to Headline Next Narrative Africa: Afrobeats superstar Adekunle Gold and Afro-dancehall icon Patoranking will headline the second annual Next Narrative Africa: The Bridge, a celebration of African power, creativity, and narratives, set to take place alongside the United Nations General Assembly next month.
The Bridge aims to unite leaders from government, business, and entertainment to connect Africa with its diaspora and reshape the narrative about Africa and people of African descent. The event will be held on September 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the renowned Apollo Theater in New York City.
Adekunle Gold, a three-time Nigeria Entertainment Awards winner and recent signee to Def Jam Recordings, has made significant strides in Afrobeats since releasing his debut album Gold in 2016. His sold-out show at The Apollo in 2022 earned him acclaim as one of “Afrobeats’ top exports” from Variety.
Patoranking, celebrated for his unique blend of Reggae and Dancehall, last performed at The Apollo in 2019, making this his first New York City appearance since the pandemic. Known for his Afro dancehall and reggae anthems, Patoranking has earned a place on Billboard’s U.S. Reggae Albums chart and at major international awards, further establishing him as an influential figure in African music.
DJ Mohogany, a rising star in New York City’s DJ scene and a key player in Afrobeats’ growing national presence, will also perform, with additional acts to be announced.
Check out: Higher By Patoranking
Last year’s Bridge event featured global superstar Flavour and highlighted influential voices from the global Black diaspora. This year’s event will be hosted by comedian and writer Rallo Boykins, a Howard University alum known for his appearances on Starz’s New York’s Funniest and performances at renowned comedy venues like Carolines on Broadway and The World Famous Comedy Store.
Next Narrative Africa: The Bridge will build on its 2023 success with a series of discussions featuring influential global figures from government, business, and entertainment. The initiative will also introduce the Next Narrative Africa Fund, aimed at investing in audio-visual content created by African and diaspora creatives.
Next Narrative Africa’s Founder and CEO, Akunna Cook, expresses her excitement for another year of The Bridge. “We are proud to feature Adekunle Gold and Patoranking, two of Africa’s biggest superstars, as headliners. The impact of Africa’s creative industries on the global stage is undeniable,” Cook states. “As Africa represents the largest voting bloc at the United Nations, it is fitting to center Africa’s next narrative where the world’s leaders convene to address global challenges.”
Next Narrative Africa is committed to bridging Africa, the diaspora, and leaders across sectors to shift perceptions and narratives about Africa and its people, especially at the iconic Apollo Theater.
Highlights to expect from The Bridge 2024
Stellar Performances:
Adekunle Gold
Patoranking
DJ Mohogany
Additional performers to be announced
Fireside Chats
Global leaders in government, business, and entertainment
Event Details
Date: September 26, 2024
Location: The Apollo, 253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM; Show starts at 7:30 PM
Tickets: Tickets go on sale on August 5, 2024. For the latest information on the lineup and to purchase tickets, click here to visit the website.
For press passes, interviews, partnerships and additional information, please contact info@jmoisemanagement.com – Jennifer Moise, Next Narrative Africa-Marketing Lead
Next Narrative Africa is a multimedia entertainment production company building an ecosystem that supports African & African Diasporan content creation to advance economic progress. Next Narrative Africa develops and produces narrative-shifting content about Africa and people of African descent; facilitates funding for Black diasporan storytellers who are shifting the narrative about Africa and people of African descent; and leverages relationships with diverse stakeholders at events that bring the ecosystem together to support creativity and innovation.
