ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2022: Cardi B, Michelle Obama, and More Headline the Weekend Celebration in New Orleans
Cardi B is set to make her debut performance at the upcoming ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans from July 3 to July 5. Headlining the Friday night show at Caesars Superdome, Cardi B's performance follows the conclusion of her Little Miss Drama Tour. The festival will kick off with former First Lady Michelle Obama discussing her IMO: The Look project at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Friday's lineup includes Kehlani, Latto, and SZN4, a quartet that gained attention after appearing on Netflix's Building the Band. Saturday night will feature a highly anticipated reunion of Brandy and Monica, known for their hit song "The Boy Is Mine." Patti LaBelle, Leon Thomas, and Josh Levi will also perform on Saturday.
The closing concert on Sunday will commemorate 50 years since the Mothership landed in New Orleans during the P-Funk Earth Tour, with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic headlining the celebration. Other artists joining the lineup include Big Boi, Scarface, Big Freedia, Nona Hendryx, and Durand Bernarr. Babyface, Public Enemy, and Doug E. Fresh will close out the final night of concerts.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture, a three-day event that has been celebrating Black achievements in New Orleans for over 30 years, will feature daytime programs at the convention center. The Global Black Economic Forum, led by President and CEO Alphonso David, aims to address issues impacting Black and African communities globally. Wellness sessions, beauty events, and business gatherings will also be held throughout the weekend.
With evening concerts at Caesars Superdome and daytime experiences at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the festival's lineup spans across hip-hop, R&B, soul, and funk genres, showcasing performers from different generations. The event promises a diverse and vibrant celebration of Black culture and music.