The Women of Afro Nation Puerto Rico 2022 Speak on How the Music Industry and Community Can Better Support Them

The short but many stints of Caribbean rain paid frequent visits to Afro Nation Puerto Rico, held at Balneario de Carolina Beach in San Juan, from 24 to 26 March. That didn't stop festival-goers from roaring Yemi Alade's name with vim and energy so palpable that she was brought to her knees in gratitude as she tore down the stage as the first female artist to light up the main stage on day two.

Afro Nation Puerto Rico was a diasporic affair — with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Wizkid, Davido, Patrice Roberts, Busiswa, Shenseea, P-Square and more attracting fans from around the world to gather for a weekend celebrating Black art through our cross-cultural love for music.

Out of the 21 artists who performed during the three-day festival, just five were women. Four additional DJ and MC talents represented the ladies at the pre-event pool parties as well as on the main stage. The lack of female representation at events like these is not unique nor uncommon but is still a contrast of note, knowing how women are dominating the Afrobeats/Afropop space in their own right. At Afro Nation, the girls truly gave us a show — from the looks (many noted they were wearing local designers) to their stage presence, these ladies wear the love of music and their fans on their sleeves, and it showed.

AMAKA briefly caught up with most of the female acts in between the hustle and bustle of the festival to touch base on new happenings and to ask one question: how can the industry and fans better serve them and their fellow women artists?

Yemi Alade — Nigeria

Yemi Alade continues to be a force to be reckoned with, making up for lost time (due to COVID-19) this year with many upcoming performances (she will be performing at Trace Made in Africa festival in June and is set to headline her own show in Paris this November) and singles ("My Man" featuring Kranium is out now). Alade recently landed a Grammy by way of Angelique Kidjo, winning this year's award for Best Global Music Album — the duo collaborated on "Dignity" on Kidjo's project, Mother Nature.

"I will say that coming to Puerto Rico, I didn't know what to expect", Alade says after her show-stopping performance at Afro Nation. "Many little birds told me a lot of people flew in from different parts of America to actually be here, some probably from even London. Yes, there's only a handful of females on the lineup, but I think it's better to be at least represented than not represented at all. And I'm hoping that in a few years to come, it will double, it will triple, and there'll be more females on the lineup. But when I eventually hit that stage, like I always do, I just pour my heart out, and whoever catches it, I reciprocate — and so many people caught it. It was a lot of love, and I put some in a bottle."

Alade recognises the entertainment space is making needed efforts on including more female acts on the live music scene, but there's always room for improvement.

"There are a few people out there that know they cannot have a show without having a few female artists on the roster. But I would say that is still not enough to have eight against two — that is not balanced enough. Because a lot of female artists actually have the records. It is not about [being] righteousness and only having one female artist. We literally put up a show—there's another standard. Nobody's saying reduce the number of male artists, just top up the number of female artists. Let it be more about the music because we're doing well — we have the numbers, and we're doing great. We appreciate those who are showing us love already as it is, but we literally just started. We're taking baby steps, and we'll need you to take us to the finish line."

Patrice Roberts — Trinidad & Tobago

Patrice Roberts is a soca artist hailing from Trinidad & Tobago and is one of the few that intentionally infuses Afrobeats into her music. The energy-filled singer behind the now-viral "Mind My Business" and Afrobeats-tinged "Tender" immersed herself into the sound and culture due to its similarities with soca. "I eat [and] sleep Afro music — even before my culture", she declares. "I love the beat — it gives me an authentic vibe. I like the fact that African people are their authentic self — they change for no one."

Roberts was also the only artist at Afro Nation representing Trinidad. She found herself in awe while interacting with festival-goers who showed so much love. "I had so much fun. With every stage I hit, I want people to know that besides this being my job, I really love it", she shares. "I have a passion for my music and my craft. And my aim is to have fans go home with an impression, especially as women, to know that despite everything you're going through, you can always enjoy yourself, and you can conquer anything."

For Roberts, who's set to kick off her Strength of a Woman tour in Toronto later this month, she implores the industry and fans alike to remember that musicians like herself who aim to entertain are humans too.

"Be a little easy on us", she says, commenting on the distasteful comments she's come across on social media. "Fans often think an artist is a robot. We make mistakes like everybody else — we don't always get it right, so be easy on us. And in doing that, it motivates us to be great and do better."

Busiswa — South Africa

Msanzi's own Busiswa is having quite the year. The artist is the features queen, with collabs on Beyoncé's "My Power" and Juls' "Soweto Blues" in her repertoire. She rocked the stage performing "Coming" with Naira Marley, as well as stunningly representing South Africa during her set. "I love what Afro Nation is doing", she tells AMAKA. "In terms of having mega-festival lineups that are African — it's important and something that's not happening a lot. And I appreciate it when it does."

Busiswa would like to see the music industry prioritise female artists' safety while working on projects in studios, as well as generally push women in the forefront — as they're more than deserving.

"We should have conversations where men are involved, but not forced, to help them understand the ways in which they make women uncomfortable in the industry", Busiswa considers. "Even a single show where a woman has to attend, for example, is already unsafe because she's a woman. I think if there were ways to help the guys in the industry also understand the ways that they discourage women from participating fruitfully in the game, that would be nice. I don't think men in the industry want to listen to how to make women in the industry feel comfortable."

Her newest venture and music label, dubbed Majesty Music, intends to do right by female talent, especially in the Amapiano space. "All the guys are doing great, but all of the girls that are in it are in the background. So I really want to bring females to the forefront in a meaningful way", she continues. "With Majesty Music, I also want to find ways to encourage females to produce, because I feel like even the production of popular music, in South Africa mainly, is not just dominated by males, but exclusively male. I don't know any female producers of the music that is making waves in the world right now. So, I'm really passionate about getting that to happen."

AQ — South Africa/Guinea

AQ is a South African-Guinean DJ, producer and creative based in New York City, US. She backed Busiswa as her DJ during her set at Afro Nation. AQ is noted for being one of the few DJs who's introduced Amapiano and other South African house genres stateside in a welcoming and authentic way. As the founder and CEO of the women-orientated music label, selectHER, AQ seeks to tap into her love of community and collaboration by uplifting fellow women creatives.

"I want to do something with DJs where they feel like they could get some sort of support in the industry because we're always overlooked", AQ says, touching on the inspiration behind launching an independent label. "But we're literally the reason why people are listening to music and why people's songs pop off. We literally push the culture. I'm all about community — the only way up is together. My mission in life is to unite everyone in a way that is organic, but through music and culture."

When asked how the music sector and wider society can better support women artists, AQ lays emphasis on working together in a space that renders women talent invisible.

"These things are always like a boys club," she continues. "And I think what needs to happen is for us to do our own things, to really collaborate and get together and push ourselves out there because we know we have the talent; we know we have the capability. We just literally have to work together, and it starts with that. I know the people that I surround myself with — we all want to do things together because we all believe in each other. So support goes a long way."

DJ Sydney Love — Nigeria

DJ Sydney Love was spotted spinning at Afro Nation's pre-festival pool party on the event's opening day as well as on the main stage on day three. The Nigerian DJ, by way of Miami and New York City, US, has been in the game for a decade. She's the brainchild of the Naira Party and is also part of the movement of DJs venturing into producing and pushing original music by launching Eko Miami Records.

Sydney Love was initially booked for Afro Nation Puerto Rico 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on all gatherings, especially festivals. After linking with the festival's organisers for their first Chop Vegas event, she was excited to finally be back and welcome festival-goers to a new experience. "I was ecstatic and still shocked that out of all the people in the world, I am one of the people here, you know?", she expresses. "I feel grateful that I've worked so hard to get here, and I truly feel like I'm getting what I deserve. I'm still working, still learning, and still growing. So I just feel very grateful and ready to learn more and do more."

For Sydney Love, she would like to see a shift in the industry, which she believes currently pushes a scarcity mindset among female talent. She contends that there's a notion that there can only be one female DJ or one female artist with a platform at a time.

"It's such a bad energy to put out and to pit women against each other", she explains. "I feel like just cultivating an environment where women are not just pitted against each other would help us more than anybody realises. It will allow women to be around each other more and grow together more because now we're just all growing individually. It's a bit harder when you're just like, 'Damn, I can't even talk to this other DJ girl because I'm scared she might take a look from me, or I'm scared she might bite off of me because people are saying she's trying to be like me.' The industry should stop perpetuating these environments where women feel they have to be the only one in the room."

DJ Mahogany — Liberia

DJ Mahogany is a Liberian DJ from Brooklyn, New York, US, who's been spinning for four years. Afro Nation Puerto Rico was an opportunity she manifested as she sought to extend her reach out of New York and outside of the nightlife circuit.

"It's just very surreal", she beams. "I really wanted to come here and make connections, but to also have the opportunity to share my gifts and also be at a festival playing is totally different. Things worked out very differently. For me, I was supposed to do the pool party today, but it got cancelled. And I ended up on the main stage twice. It's funny how things work out. But I'm so happy."

For Mohogany, there's a lack of proper platforms for women DJs. "I definitely think there need to be more opportunities for women, specifically for female DJs — there's not that many of us. Normally in these spaces, men are dominating. That's just standard", she expands. "We need more spaces for women to DJ, but to also lead in those spaces, headline, and help to curate experiences as well. I think there is a stigma when it comes to female DJs. We also want them to be safe, we want them to be treated fairly, we want to get paid what we're supposed to get paid — but we also want to be respected as women in those spaces, and nothing else."

She continues, "I think this is a really great time for women, particularly in New York. A lot of us are just doing incredible stuff. We support each other. We hold each other down. We create spaces for us to talk with each other and just support one another. And even sometimes, just vent about the reality of being a woman as a DJ in these spaces — our experiences are very unique, and they're very different. To have that community of women is really important."

MC Lolahstic — Nigeria

MC Lolahstic is a host and presenter that is one to watch. The Nigerian MC, who's based in New York City, US, joined DJ Mahogany on the main stage on day three due to their original gig being cancelled at Afro Nation.

"I'm just trying to grab a mic any chance I get", she shares. "Bigger picture for me is to be on the radio — I want to be the Angie Martinez of the African movement. There's no better way to tell our story but from somebody of the roots — it's more authentic, and it's more relatable. I know that being on the radio waves is a space where everyone is able to connect without even seeing me visually — you're not judging my body or what I look like; you're judging my voice, what I sound like and how I'm able to bring you in."

MC Lolahstic would like to see the field, especially those who work in booking talent, to be more intentional and mindful when it comes to the sourcing and selecting process.

"You just have to literally source women who are doing what another guy is already doing, you know? And that takes time, as opposed to, 'I'm just going to put my friend on", she considers. "Because not every time that somebody is putting somebody on, they're good — the talent is lacking. The talent genuinely has to be there without any kind of bias, and that's when we get a good representation. I initially did come in as general admission. I was just coming to watch the show. But from a consumer's standpoint, I was disappointed by the lack of representation. You have three people on the mic who are technically fighting for stage time. And sometimes, it takes away from the DJ's overall performance. And whatever a guy can do, a woman can do better. I hate to say that, but it really is just taking the time out to literally source — the kind of entertainment that you're searching for, a woman is doing it."

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The Women of Afro Nation Puerto Rico 2022 Speak on How the Music Industry and Community Can Better Support Them