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Date: January 5 and 11
Place: Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa
Kaytranada headlined the first-ever Milk + Cookies Festival in South Africa, which took place Jan. 5 at the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch and Jan. 11 at Old Park Station. DJ Kent, Zakes Bantwini, Kitty Ca$h and more were on the Cape Town lineup, while Muzi, DJ Lag, Mörda and more took the stage before Kay in Joburg. This marked the international debut of the Atlanta-based festival, which was part of the inaugural Milk + Cookies Music Week South Africa that ran from Dec. 31, 2024 to Jan. 11, 2025. The first week involved yacht parties, cultural experiences, exclusive fashion pop-ups by top local designers and performances by local artists and DJs, while the second week featured workshops, panels and networking mixers focused on developing the country’s rising stars.
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Date: July 26 – August 2
Place: Kigali, Rwanda
Giants of Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering African youth through basketball, hosted its third festival at BK Arena, Amahoro National Stadium, Petit Stade and Paralympic Gymnasium in Kigali, Rwanda. Uncle Waffles, Sherrie Silver and Kevin Kade performed at the opening show, which kicked off the week-long celebration of community, culture, basketball, education and entertainment. The festival also hosted the grand opening of Zaria Court — a mixed-use sports, entertainment and cultural district featuring a hotel, sports bar, basketball court, event space, retail outlets, gym, football pitch and outdoor public areas — and the inaugural Threads of Africa Fashion Show, which spotlighted new collections from three fashion designers: Cameroon’s Hortense Mbea, Niger’s Alia Baré and Rwanda and South Africa’s Nyambo. Kizz Daniel and Timaya wrapped up the festivities with a closing concert.
“Like these kids, I grew up on the continent,” said Masai Ujiri, founder of Giants of Africa and vice chairman/president of the Toronto Raptors, in a press release. “As Africans, we know the landscape of what the kids go through. We know they dream just like we did and it really inspires me because, those kids have so much more talent and intelligence, they have ways to communicate now that we didn’t. This festival is about showing them there is a path. We want them to never stop dreaming.”
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Date: August 16-17
Place: Detroit, Michigan
AfroFuture debuted in the U.S. this summer with AfroFuture Detroit at Bedrock’s Douglass Site. Davido, Kaytranada, Ludmilla and Tee Grizzley headlined. Lojay, Gims and more also performed on the main stage. DBN Gogo, Juls, TxC and more DJed the Culture Stage, which also hosted party sets from Jerk x Jollof, Days Like This (DLT), Obi’s House and Toasted Life. The inaugural U.S. event also spotlighted dynamic art installations and a marketplace celebrating the continent’s creativity.
“As a cultural and musical powerhouse, Detroit is the perfect city to launch this transformative experience. By connecting African excellence with Detroit’s rich heritage, we’re bridging the diaspora across borders and oceans through the universal language of music. This is more than just a typical festival – it’s a moment of unity and a celebration of the power of Africa,” said AfroFuture CEO/co-founder Abdul Karim Abdullah in a statement.
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Date: August 22
Place: London, England
Piano People in the Park returned for its second edition in Southwark Park in London, England. The “King of Amapiano” Kabza de Small headlined the U.K.’s premiere amapiano festival, featuring additional sets from DBN Gogo, Kelvin Momo, MDU AKA TRP, Felo Le Tee b2b Scotts Maphuma and more.
“Amapiano has truly found a home in London, and this festival is a celebration of that; where fans, artists, and the entire community unite for something special. This is more than just a festival; it’s a movement,” Piano People organizers said in a press release.