The 30th birthday celebration of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® concluded with a spectacular day filled with sunrise-to-sunset unforgettable moments.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JULY 07: (L-R) Anika Noni Rose and Jenifer Lewis speak during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
The final day was graced by a star-studded lineup during the daytime events, featuring appearances from actress, singer, and producer Keke Palmer, voting rights activist Stacey Abrams, chart-topping Afrobeats singer and actress Tiwa Savage, comedian, host, and actor Rickey Smiley, iconic actress Regina Hall.
DMV icon and award-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer Mya performed, TV personality and entrepreneurs Karen Huger and Candiace Dillard-Bassett, actress and TV personality Garcelle Beauvais, actress and producer Marsai Martin and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley all spoke as well.
The daytime festivities were packed with highlights that captivated attendees. Producer and author DeVon Franklin led a moving Sunday Service on the ESSENCE Stage™, featuring performances by the Xavier University Choir, Dillard University Choir, Warren Easton Charter High School Choir, and the NFL Players Choir.
Award-winning actresses Anika Noni Rose and Jenifer Lewis took to the ESSENCE Stage™ to emphasize the importance of multigenerational storytelling. They shared their experiences from the big screen to the innovative Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, inspiring the audience with their tales of perseverance and creativity.
Following the celebration of Hip-Hop 50, iconic femcees Rapsody, Lady London, and Mia X joined the ESSENCE Stage™ for an enlightening discussion moderated by DEDE McGuire.
They explored the emerging generation of women in Hip-Hop, discussing the future of the culture and the significant roles women continue to play in shaping it.
Interviews:
As the sun set, the nighttime performances delivered an incredible show, headlined by the global icon Janet Jackson.
Festival-goers were treated to electrifying performances by Victoria Monét, SWV, Tank and The Bangas featuring Teedra Moses, Hasizzle, and Dawn Richard.
A special tribute to Frankie Beverly and Maze, curated by Bryan-Michael Cox, featured surprise performances by Anthony Hamilton, Bilal, Lil’ Mo and Jagged Edge.
Day four of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ was a fitting grand finale to a milestone celebration, leaving attendees with cherished memories and a renewed sense of cultural pride and unity.
