AFROPUNK is about education, political awareness and self-empowerment, an influential community of young, gifted people of all backgrounds who speak through music, art, film, comedy, fashion and other forms of self expression. Originating with the 2003 documentary that highlighted a Black presence in the American punk scene, it is a platform for the alternative and experimental. Remaining at the core of its mission are the punk principles of DIY aesthetics, radical thought and social non-conformity. AFROPUNK is a voice for the unwritten, unwelcome and unheard-of.
In the past 9 years, AFROPUNK has become a cultural movement celebrating the creativity and freedom of spirit in alternative Black culture. Urban kids who once felt like outsiders are the core of this fast-growing community. D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) is the foundation.
It all started with 2003’s Afro-Punk, the seminal cult classic film spotlighting Black Punks in America. Afro-Punk became a touchstone of a cultural movement strongly reminiscent of the early days of Hip-Hop. Alternative urban kids across the nation (and across the globe) who felt like outsiders discovered they were actually the core of a boldly innovative, fast-growing community. The online members have been the driving force behind the exploding Afro-Punk (AP) culture, creating an authentic virtual home in www.afropunk.com
As the AP movement continued to gain momentum and influence, it went front-and-center at CMJ and SXSW, press coverage ranged from Pitchfork, URB, Vibe, and Nylon to The New York Times, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, MTV and The Los Angeles Times.
In 2005, the very first annual Afro-Punk Festival debuted to wildly enthusiastic crowds at the iconic Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The festival celebrated and unified the cultural cornerstones of Afro-Punk: music, film, skate, and most importantly, the fiercely independent and influential individuals that are the lifeblood of the AP community.
Now in its 6th year, the Afro-Punk Festival is bigger than ever: 40 bands over 7 days, skate/BMX parks, visual artists, movies and thousands of audience members. In 2015 it landed in Europe stepping in Paris and Totem Taboo has been there in its second edition, Afropunk Paris 2016.
