The 30th Essence Festival Of Culture Recap
The 30th Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, Louisiana, took place this past weekend and was definitely an event to remember, to say the least. On July 7th, celebrities such as Keke Palmer, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie, and Jenifer Lewis were just a few amongst many that made an appearance at the festival. Viewers were shocked to find the legendary Grammy-winning artist, Janet Jackson, headlining the event, along with astounding performances by Victoria Monét, SWV, and Tank, to name a few.
The Essence Festival initially began, “in 1994 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence, a magazine aimed towards African-American women. The festival was so well-received, organizers decided to make it an annual event.” The event is now one of the most highly respected and anticipated festivals to take place every year over a four-day period, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. Over the years, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Beyonce, and Mariah Carey are only some amongst the many adored and successful artists that have made appearances at the festival.
Headliner, Janet Jackson, made her mark at the festival with a very lively and memorable performance. Her setlist featured some of her most iconic and timeless songs, such as “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” “Escapade,” “Control,” along with mashups, and even covered “Scream,” a duet with her late brother, Michael Jackson. As the 58-year-old performer finished, “up her festival set, she wowed the crowd with her 1989 song “Rhythm Nation.””. Jackson shared her love for the Essence Festival and how it differs from other performances: “I think one thing people can expect more of that they never really got, I talk a little bit more during this show than I normally do. So I’ve heard people say that they enjoy seeing my personality come during the show.”
Janet Jackson headlining at the 30th Essence Festival of Culture. Shot by Solaiman Fazel
On the final day of the Essence Festival, there were some very memorable moments that made for an impactful conclusion to the event. According to a press release, “iconic femcees Rhapsody, Lady London, and Mia X joined the ESSENCE Stage to explore the emerging generation of women in Hip-Hop.” Jenifer Lewis and Anike Rose, respected actresses, also discussed the importance of multigenerational storytelling. Samuel Reynolds was one amongst the many artists that graced the AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA stage with his hypnotic Afrobeats. It’s safe to say that this year’s Essence Festival of Culture was beyond unforgettable and has fans already anxiously waiting to see what next year’s festival holds.
Featured Image: Getty Images for ESSENCE