Black Women Took Center Stage at AFROPUNK's Inaugural Black HERStory Live at Lincoln Center
By Bianca Jean-Pierre
Photos by Soukayna Dieng
MARCH 1st, 2023- AFROPUNK’s Black HERSTORY Live, was a weekend takeover at Lincoln Center’s state-of-the-art David Geffen Hall and Alice Tully Hall. As Black History Month comes to a close and we prepare for Women’s History Month, Black HERstory was the perfect intersection of celebrating the black woman’s journey to finding her voice through music and performance. The two day event was an immersive multidisciplinary experience that included music, visual art, poetry, dance, performance art surrounding themes of agony and ecstasy. Performances by aja monet, India.Arie, Mereba, Danielle Ponder, UMI, and more collectively paid homage to our ancestors who guide and inspire use while continuing to blaze a trail forward that shines a light on our paths ahead.
In addition to highlighting black art and music, AFROPUNK was just as invested in empowering black businesses with a two day Open Fair that proceeded the evening performances. Black-owned vendors across beauty, fashion, jewelry, and wellness filled several booths accompanied by a special Sephora activation featuring Black founders/entrepreneurs, content creators, and artists leading discussions centered around entrepreneurship.
Day 1 of performances at Alice Tully Hall covered the theme of agony. Lincoln Center’s first ever poet-in-residence and host for the event, Mahogany L. Browne reminded us that agony is also an opportunity for rebirth and triumph that “invites us to move our attention to what needs us most.”
Four incredible contemporary dancers kicked off the evening’s performances with bold and exhilarating choreography by THE Ebony Williams, Emmy-nominated choreographer to stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Doja Cat. The choreography was supported by the moving and powerful songs of Nina Simone (“Four Women”), Beyonce (“Break My Soul”), and Doechii (“Crazy”) and photographs by Carrie Mae Weems followed by a message to all watching to “Protect Black Women”.
aja monet, surrealist blues poet and storyteller graced the stage both nights with an electrifying blue afro to match her dynamic poems that take us through identity, love, loss, healing, and the wave of emotions that push and pull as we navigate each of these life phases. Monet offered a very timely reminder that “...we are the ones that need to look inwards so we can show up better. Healing can’t happen from outside. If you do not heal, there is nothing you can do for your community. My sisters, show up for yourselves and you can be better for the world around you.”
aja monet, Day 1 (Agony)
“Healing can’t happen from outside. If you do not heal, there is nothing you can do for your community. My sisters, show up for yourselves and you can be better for the world around you.”
aja monet, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Celisse did her thing as she energized the audience with electric guitar solos and gritty vocals that brought the audience to their feet. Standing on the shoulders of ancestors like Sister Rosetta Thorpe, the Godmother of Rock ‘N’ Roll, it’s clear how infinite the Black woman’s influence on culture really is.
Celisse, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
Soul singer, Danielle Ponder’s rich and resounding vocals brought us back into our feels showing how sometimes our most challenging and agonizing moments can be alchemized into beautiful songs that serve as a healing essence. She offered a message of hope by sharing that she got her first record deal at 39 after deciding to leave her career as a lawyer to pursue her music full time. Ponder’s story not only defies ageism but highlights how we don’t have to sacrifice our dreams as black women and can choose ourselves.
Danielle Ponder, Day 1 (Agony)
Danielle Ponder, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
To close Day 1 on spiritual note, UMI led the audience in meditation before performing to ground us back into our bodies and quiet our minds. UMI’s music builds a space for healing and was the perfect reminder to prioritize taking care of ourselves in mind, body, and spirit.
UMI, Day 1 (Agony)
Combining the cultural impact of black women from past, present, and future was a recurring theme for both nights. As Day 2 of Black HERstory shifted to Lincoln Center’s legendary David Geffen Hall, the theme was ecstasy. The energy in the room felt like a warm embrace and as Mahogany L. Browne described “our rebirth,” assuring the audience they would be held that night. But instead of embracing and protecting everyone else around us, this time as black women, we’re pouring that nurturing energy back into ourselves. Embracing ourselves.
Mahogany L. Browne, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
The tone was set immediately as dancers returned with an uplifting routine in bright chartreuse to Beyonce’s “Cozy”. R&B, folk, and hip hop artist Mereba immersed the audience in her sultry vocals, rhythmic guitar chords, and punchy lyrics on hits like “Black Truck” and crowd favorite “Rider”.
Ebony Williams Choreography, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
“The energy in the room felt like a warm embrace and as Mahogany L. Browne described “our rebirth,” assuring the audience they would be held that night. But instead of embracing and protecting everyone else around us, this time as black women, we’re pouring that nurturing energy back into ourselves. Embracing ourselves.”
Mereba, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
The standout performance of the evening was India.Arie’s one hour set filled with reminders to love, respect, protect, and cherish ourselves above all else which is a message the iconic singer has preached for decades. India.Arie, glowing in a bright baby pink cape and floral crown, tried to hold back tears as she expressed her challenging relationship with the music industry and performing, often skeptical that her audience and colleagues truly understand and embody what it means to respect black women. She quickly realized she could let her guard down as the tone for respecting, loving, and honoring black women had already been set by previous performers.
“As black women, we learn the delicate balance between demanding respect while also allowing ourselves the freedom to be vulnerable enough to experience life in its fullness. With her uplifting lyrics, courage to be herself unapologetically while consistently speaking out against major corporations who often place the needs of black women at the bottom of their priorities, Arie creates the safe space needed for us to feel vulnerable and whole.”
India.Arie, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
India.Arie, Day 2 (Ecstasy)
Arie took us through her most popular hits like “I Am Not My Hair”, “Video”, and “I Am Light”. She reminisced on her path to recognizing and living out her own worthiness, with self worth being an anchor throughout her set. Arie shared a past conversation with the legendary Cicely Tyson where the icon encouraged her to “break the shell and let life touch you.”
As black women we learn the delicate balance between demanding respect while also allowing ourselves the freedom to be vulnerable enough to experience life in all its fullness. With the courage to be herself unapologetically while consistently speaking out against major corporations that often place the needs of black women at the bottom of their priorities, Arie creates the safe space needed for us to feel vulnerable and whole. To bring the message of worthiness full circle, Arie gracefully played the flute while singing “Ready For Love” as “Black Lives Matter” displayed boldly on the screen behind the stage. Black lives, and black women especially, are worthy of unconditional love, dignity, and respect always and without question.
Check out more highlights from AFROPUNK’s Black HERstory Live below. Learn more about AFROPUNK here.
Photos by Soukayna Dieng
Photography by Nabila Wirakusumah
NYALLAH is known for blending elements of neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop, and West African rhythms while exploring themes of self-expansion, transformation, and love. With their latest project, R+B, recorded in phases spanning a near-death bike accident and an eye-opening trip to Costa Rica, R+B navigates relationships, desirability, and self-awareness from a black queer perspective. Through enchanting vocals and vulnerable lyrics, NYALLAH reminds us that desirability is not love and our liberation lies in de-centering ourselves and prioritizing collective care.