Afro Nation share documentary charting rise of amapiano and Afrobeats, A Movement
The short film captures the scale of the sounds with interviews from festival founders and artists
Portugal’s annual music festival Afro Nation has released a documentary on the impact of Afrobeats and amapiano, titled Afro Nation: A Movement.
A Movement features interviews with the leading stars of both genres, including South African amapiano trailblazer Musa Keys, Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif, and multi-platinum Afrobeat group The Compozers.
Other interviews featured in the documentary come from artists including Camidoh, Kamo Mphela, Skyla Tylaa, and Nelson Freitas. Check it out below.
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The documentary looks at the huge scale of Afrobeats and amapiano, as well as the reach of those genres both inside and outside of the African continent.
Footage from Afro Nation’s Portugal events is also shown throughout the documentary, including “unreleased” performance clips from the likes of Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Ayra Starr.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who plays a part, from our fans and community travelling from around the world, and our phenomenal artists gracing the stage, to the dedicated teams working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment for all," festival organisers explain in the film.
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The 17-minute documentary also features interviews with organisers and experts, including SMADE, the festival’s co-founder, Eddie Kadi, host of The Official UK Afrobeats Chart on BBC 1Xtra, and Afrobeats historian and podcaster Shopsydoo.
A Movement was directed by Rita Guimarães and aims to show how Afro Nation has helped to put artists on the map, and charts the festival’s success over the years.
Afro Nation 2024 takes place from June 26 - 28 on Portimao Beach in The Algarve. The line-up this year features Nicki Minaj, Rema, Asake, J Hus, Tyla, and more. Grab tickets here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter