This past weekend, something almost as huge as our beloved Saints taking on an out-of-town football team went on at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The annual Essence Festival took place June 30-July 3, along with the daytime celebrations at the Convention Center. The event gathered multitudes from all over the country to come and “party with a purpose” at the popular New Orleans fest. While countless music acts when on at the Superbowl during the night, events like independent movie showings, DJ led dance parties, and speakers looking to impart knowledge took place at the Convention Center.
Admittedly, as a kid, having never sought an interest in reading an Essence issue (but always seeing a copy lying somewhere around the house on account of my mother), there was no way to expect the power it held when it came to the cultural arts its creators stored and cherished. The event is followed with the motto, “party with a purpose”, for a reason. The educational aspects of Essence fest is just as valued as their musical performances. For instance, one theater at the Convention Center offered the touching Maya Angelou documentary, “And Still I Rise”, along with other upcoming movies. The events at the Center were an educative, family-oriented, fun environment with DJs and dancing teenagers showing off their moves, and even sometimes challenging each other’s skills. One of the many speakers was the high-esteemed Oprah Winfrey. It was the former talk show host’s first time speaking at Essence Fest and she used the opportunity to speak on some of the life-altering choices that started the line to her success.
With the doors of the dome opening at 6:30 p.m., many came in dressed for the occasion. Leather shoes and blazers were seen through the large crowds awaiting a night of live music. Ladies brought out their heels and ripped tags off freshly-bought dresses. While the main stage attracted most of the crowd, outlying fans and younger people were intrigued by the smaller acts taking place in the superlounges.
Immediately entering any of the four superlounges, a feeling of intimacy was quickly received by the audience. With vastly open spaces and deafening cheers, it was unlikely for this feeling to be replicated at the main stage. Though, the performers were smaller in prominence, their performances were as far from that as possible. Try standing still as Mark Braud (trumpeter of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band) emits an ear-splitting, strikingly jazzy, solo from his horn with the ease of a whistle. And watching Ronell Johnson (trombonist of the same band) move vibrantly across the stage would make the most introverted jazz lover pick up their dancing shoes. When Jidenna performed later that night, the Hot Right Now Superlounge was packed almost to full capacity, leaving room to stand comfortably only on the side and back walls. The well-dressed “classic man” was a natural crowd-pleaser. In between songs performed with his band, he told charismatic anecdotes about life with his Nigerian father and growing up in LA.
Though, the main stage was a bit less personal, it was filled from top to bottom by fans coming to celebrate with top notch performers such as New Edition, Mariah Carey, Charlie Wilson, and Kendrick Lamar. Charlie Wilson, a back-to-back performer at Essence each year, gave a soul-wrenching R&B performance and Mariah Carey, brought in her first Essence Fest with a bang. But, for a 19-year-old who brushes his teeth to King Kunta and whose Spring Break ‘12 playlist was Good Kid M.A.A.D City, Kendrick was the king of the main stage. He took us back to old hits with the revival of Backseat Freestyle and Swimming Pools then caught us up on his newer album with songs like “Alright”, bringing a whole arena of people together as they shouted the chorus, “We gon’ be alright, we gon’ be alright”.
Essence fest definitely has a purpose each year. People come from all over the country to participate in what it has to offer. And I’m sure they’re not booking flights and hotel rooms for any regular festival lineup. Essence is essential to the culture it promotes and, also, to New Orleans. The history of the jazz that was birthed in Congo Square, then later nursed and fed within the confines of the French Quarter are the building blocks to the music we all experienced this weekend.
But, the biggest reason Essence is so phenomenally renowned is because the likes of it are almost unprecedented. So few black-owned organizations ever reach this level of prestige. In the midst of a euro-centric media, people are coming from all over the country (black, white, and everything in between) to celebrate black culture in such a way that is inclusive and unparalleled. It brings people together, through its music, and spreads a positive, uplifting message, letting everyone know “we gon’ be alright.”
All photos by Noe Cugny and Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee. Click here to view the full gallery on Flickr.
Photo by Noe Cugny
