Akon Is Bringing His First Ever Jollof Music and Food Festival to Atlanta

Akon is gearing up to bring the city of Atlanta the first-ever annual Jollof Music and Food Festival, a cultural experience unlike any other for a great cause.

The “Don’t Matter” singer has partnered with music executive Jacob York, Color of Change, and Ais York for the family-friendly event that will take place on Saturday, July 23rd, at Piedmont Park, located just two miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

Sprawled across 200+ acres, the Jollof Music and Food Festival will feature a variety of exciting activities and live music performances for all to enjoy. Rotimi, Salma Slims, and other artists are expected to grace the stage along with several Afrobeat and Caribbean DJs. Attendees will also get to know the beloved Jollof dish, a one-pot rice delicacy popular among West African countries. Akon and several chefs will judge a Jollof contest, and several food vendors will offer the flavorful dish.

Color of Change will also be hosting a Black Men’s 3×3 basketball tournament, with teams competing to win several awards. Aspiring musicians can also participate in Akon’s afrobeat boot camp, allowing them to showcase their talents in front of the Grammy-nominated artist and the audience.

A portion of the proceeds will go towards Akon Lighting Africa, an initiative started in 2014 by the singer along with, Samba Bathily and Thione Niang. The program provides electricity by solar energy in Africa. Akon Lighting Africa has successfully supplied at least 14 African nations with sustainable, solar-powered electricity via street lamps and solar panels.

The Jollof Music and Food Festival will open its gates at 12 p.m. and is scheduled to run until 11:00 p.m. Tickets start at just $25.