Africon 2023 brings the diaspora to Los Angeles

Africon returns for its second in-person conference, and the stage is set for another impactful year. The four-day conference is the brainchild of the visionary co-founders behind Amplify Africa, Damilare Kujembola and Timi Adeyeba.

Africon was established to create a physical community for the Nigerian duo’s parent company. According to Travel Noir, Amplify Africa is a 360-degree culture company that curates Africon’s experiences, such as events and parties. The brand also includes a media division and a creative agency.

In an interview with Travel Noir, Kujembola said that “attempting to reconnect with Africa was one of the hardest things to do while living in America.”

“Whether it was through food or events, throughout my schooling, I was always looking to reconnect back with the continent. Those things kept me grounded,” Kujembola said.

The two also saw a need for African representation in entertainment. They utilized their connections as entertainment attorneys to fill that void. Last year’s lineup was full of influential members of the diaspora, including Abdul Abdullah, the founder and CEO of Afrochella; Grammy-nominated recording artist, Jidenna; and Rema Morgan Aluko, the vice president of software engineering for Fandango.

This year, attendees can look forward to a welcome party hosted by Nelson Mandela’s grandson, multiple events and celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Africa Day and a music festival headlined by Nigerian Afrobeats singer Asake.

The outlet mentions the flagship event of the conference is the annual Afroball gala. In partnership with the U.S. Congress, the event honors “people of African descent for their accomplishments and advancements across industries.”

The two-day conference will include masterclasses covering funding, immigration and the outlet of tech within the diaspora. Financial health and real estate investments are also hot topics on the docket.

Africon 2023 takes place in Los Angeles from May 25 to May 28. Tickets and event information are available on the website.

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Africon 2023 brings the diaspora to Los Angeles."