PHOTOS: Afropunk Atlanta 2019

For four years now, AFROPUNK has been presenting its Carnival of Consciousness in Atlanta. Along the way there have been a few missteps, mostly due to lack of preparedness and organization. But looking back at last weekend, I couldn’t help but reflect on how successfully the festival has ingrained itself into Atlanta’s culture, specifically within the city’s Black and Brown communities.

While many have debated AFROPUNK’s roots and whether or not the festival has abandoned its primary focus on Black punk and alternative music, there’s little question that the Carnival of Consciousness has managed to produce some exceptional lineups in its relatively short run. Such was the case for this year’s bill with genre-bending artists like Anderson .Paak and FKA twigs taking the stage at 787 Windsor alongside an impressive array of hip-hop innovators and R&B/soul trailblazers.

But perhaps more than any other festival, AFROPUNK has been about its audience first and foremost. And while most commentators and publications have tended to focus on the wild spectrum of fashions and inventive looks that festivalgoers bring every year, it’s equally important to recognize the roles of art, politics, and technology within AFROPUNK’s cultural nexus. With that unique convergence in mind, photographer and Immersive contributor Wildy Civil was on hand to capture this year’s weekend-long event. Check out his gallery of photos below.

Click on an image to enlarge.

The People of AFROPUNK Atlanta

Mahalia

Masego

The People of AFROPUNK Atlanta

Lucky Daye

Anderson .Paak

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