Matthew Morgan& Jocelyn Cooper

Equality: in 2017, an incredibly punk concept. There is a fearlessness in the co-founders that’s unmatched in a sea of milquetoast cultural competitors. Chalk up some of the festival’s global success to je ne sais quoi (a Paris installment helps), but other pieces of the AFROPUNK story are just so simple it hurts — book local acts to build buzz, treat absolutely everyone with respect, and reject division while celebrating difference.