The term “Afropunk” has itself evolved from being associated with punk culture to encompassing all things alternative. How should we define it?
It depends on who you ask, but for Matthew [Morgan, co-founder of the festival], Afropunk’s always been a platform for creativity, freedom and excellence. He sees it as a do-it-yourself attitude, an initiative artists, creatives and activists could use to elevate their expression. The power of allowing people to come together without cultural or societal expectations is often underestimated. It gives them a sense of liberation a sense of freedom without them even realising it, and that’s the space that we want to create physically. We do it online, reaching almost 40 million people a week across our social and digital channels.
Are big brands becoming more supportive of the Afropunk concept? Historically, they haven’t been.
That’s been really interesting. Some brands – like Dr Martens and Toyota – really do get it and are therefore a natural fit for us. There’s also a lot of support for Earn a Ticket, our programme in which an army of volunteers give their time to their communities and disadvantaged people in order to gain access to the festival. We’ve put 35 000 people through that programme already.
The post Powerhouse: Jocelyn Cooper appeared first on DESTINY Magazine.