AfroFuture Festival Makes Its U.S. Debut in Detroit with a Weeklong Celebration of Diaspora Culture

AfroFuture, the lit Afrobeats festival that’s been shutting down Ghana every December, is officially making its U.S. debut, and they’re not coming to play. They’re coming to Detroit, and they’re bringing the full diaspora experience with them.

Set to go down August 16–17, 2025, AfroFuture Detroit isn’t just another music festival, it’s a whole weeklong celebration of Blackness, culture, food, vibes, and excellence.

But wait, before the main stage even lights up, they’re blessing the city with events starting August 11, because why just party for two days when you can set the whole city on fire for a week?

AfroFuture CEO Abdul Karim Abdullah said it best:

“Bringing AfroFuture to Detroit isn’t just about launching a festival; it’s about building a cultural movement.”

And honestly, he’s right. The lineup? STACKED. We’re talking Asake, Davido, and the vibes master himself Kaytranada, all in one place. That alone is reason enough to show up, but AfroFuture said, “Nah, we’re not done.”

From bar crawls to chef tastings, poetry nights, and even a $10,000 pitch competition for Black innovators, AfroFuture Detroit is doing it for the culture. They’re not just putting Detroit on the map, they’re connecting the dots across the African diaspora.

Foodies, listen up. AfroFuture Restaurant Week is about to be a whole experience. Detroit’s Black-owned spots like Kola Restaurant, Salt + Ko, Breadless, and Ivy Kitchen are popping out with exclusive menus, cooking demos, and chef’s tables that are bound to sell out quick.

They’re also showing love to the creatives and entrepreneurs with Diaspora Connect, a pitch competition that’s putting $10K in someone’s hands (no strings attached, okay!) — plus mentorship and exposure. It’s about uplifting the visionaries who are repping the culture for real.

Add in spoken word nights, Afro movie nights, karaoke link-ups, and nonstop pre-parties and after-parties, and you already know this whole week is about to feel like Black Coachella meets Homecoming weekend with a side of jollof.

Bedrock’s CEO Kofi Bonner summed it up best:

“AfroFuture Detroit is more than just a festival. It’s honoring the ties between Detroit and the African diaspora, and it’s creating space for joy, connection, and legacy.”

We love that for the D.