Oh that? That’s just me interviewing Afropunk founder James Spooner in Believer Mag. Big up to Spooner for sitting through it and Niela Orr for some bombass edits! Here’s an excerpt:
BLVR:
I’ve heard people ask where’s the punk in Afropunk these days?
JS:
Objectively, you can say “Oh, we have this Afropunk name but we get these complaints about it not being punk enough so let’s get these bands, whatever…” It doesn’t amount to punk because punk is about community and corporate sponsorship doesn’t align itself with grassroots communities. When people complain to me about Afropunk I’m like, “Dude, it’s just an R&B concert. Go enjoy yourself or don’t go.”
I’ve asked people who know nothing of Afropunk’s history, “Did you leave the festival feeling like you’ve gained community?” So far no one has said yes. They’ve had a great time, they’ve taken awesome pictures, they might have seen some bands. But they didn’t make new friends. They didn’t come home with a second family. The thing is you can’t expect that from a once-a-year event. For a scene to exist it has to be happening on a regular.
To read the full interview, click this link: The Process: James Spooner, The Afropunk Festival.
Recent Comments