The 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® kicked off its exhilarating four-day celebration of 30 years of love by paying tribute to New Orleans, the festival’s iconic headliner. During the 2024 Press Welcome Event and Immersion, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and ESSENCE Ventures President & CEO Caroline Wanga, along with the executive leadership team, delved into the economic and cultural influence of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ on New Orleans and Louisiana.

Following the welcome remarks, the event kicked off with a vibrant display of New Orleans’ cultural heritage. Gallier Hall featured an impressive collection of local artists, showcasing their talent and creativity. At the Selina Catahoula New Orleans Rooftop, attendees were treated to a cooking demonstration that added a contemporary twist to traditional Creole dishes. The energetic atmosphere continued with a sip and sew session led by the renowned Shaka Zulu, who is known for his mastery of Black Masking suit designs. To top it all off, participants had the opportunity to explore the Contem through guided tours.

Following the 2024 Press Welcome Event and Immersion, DJ D-Nice electrified the start of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® birthday celebration at Club Quarantine Live After Dark at the Fillmore New Orleans. The revolutionary virtual event that brought together millions during the pandemic has now transformed into an offline experience that fosters a sense of community and deepens connections. We are looking for a large list of high-profile guests for our upcoming event. The event was filled with renowned performers and special guests, such as Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Eric Benét, the iconic R&B group Jade, the chart-topping singer and songwriter J. Valentine, the energetic radio host Kenny Burns, the talented saxophonist Mike Phillips, as well as Raheem Devaughn, Ruff Endz, and Sunshine Anderson. Deon Cole, an award-winning comedian and emcee, joined forces with Bryan-Michael Cox, a renowned producer and composer, to provide the music.

Recap of Day 2

On Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola®, there was an exciting event at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The launch of ESSENCE Hollywood House™ and Suede: Men’s Experience™ (previously In His Zone) brought a full day of celebration from sunrise to sunset.

2024 Essence Get ready for an electrifying event as Coca-Cola brings you the Festival of Culture™, in collaboration with Birdman And Friends. Join us as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cash Money with a night filled with non-stop excitement and entertainment. The Hot Boyz, including Birdman, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, and B.G., were brought together by Millionaires for an electrifying hometown performance. Scarface, Bun B, and 2 Chainz brought the house down at the concert, alongside a lineup of talented Cash Money artists from the past three decades.

Furthermore, Vice President Kamala Harris delighted the evening music series audience with her excitement for this year’s 30th anniversary and her eagerness to meet everyone tomorrow during her panel with Essence Ventures CEO and President Caroline Wanga.

Recap of Day Three

On Day 3 of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola®, Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a candid “Chief to Chief” conversation at the Global Black Economic Forum HQ. The festival also showcased the presence of Serena Williams, an iconic athlete, entrepreneur, and style icon, at BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, as well as the inaugural ESSENCE Black Women in Business Dinner.

Vice President Kamala Harris and ESSENCE President and CEO Caroline Wanga engaged in a lively and dynamic “Chief to Chief” conversation at GBEF® HQ. For half a century, ESSENCE has been empowering Black women with the knowledge of Wagna’s power. Harris motivated participants at the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® to enter rooms with confidence, as the US presidential election loomed just 122 days away.

Day three at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was filled with exciting midday activities that brought joy to festivalgoers. Here are the highlights:

The ESSENCE Stage™ panels featured a lively fireside talk with talented actresses Emayatzy Corinealdi, Morris Chestnut, and McKinley Freeman, giving audiences an exciting glimpse into Season 2 of Reasonable Doubt on Hulu.

Aldis Hodge delves into Detective Cross’s perspectives on brothers, family, and the power of Black love.

Producer Carlos King ensured that Black Reality TV’s most prominent stars, including bounce pioneer Big Freedia, entrepreneur Yandy Smith-Harris, and TV personality Toya Johnson-Rushing, maintained their genuine and vibrant presence.

The mothers of Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal, along with Michelle L. Rice, President of TV One and CLEO TV, had a lively discussion about raising intelligent and talented children.

During BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, Serena Williams shared her insights on turning her passions into a thriving business, both on and off the court.

The ESSENCE® GU® Kickback, hosted by the dynamic duo of actress and entrepreneur Skai Jackson and content producer Raymont, showcased an electrifying lineup of talent. The stage came alive with the energetic performances of New Orleans rapper Treety, the soulful melodies of singer and songwriter 4Batz, and the captivating presence of Miami’s very own chart-topping femcee, known as the “City Cinderella.”

Celebrities such as Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut, and Meagan Good had an incredible time exploring Black Hollywood in New Orleans at the ESSENCE Film Festival® by ESSENCE STUDIOS™.

Join Lance Gross and Terrance J. at Suede: Men’s Experience™ (formerly In His Zone) as they delve into the impact of their HBCU education on their thriving Hollywood careers.

On July 6th, ESSENCE AuthorsTM presented an electrifying lineup of authors and literary voices. Political figure Bakari Sellers, along with romance novel pioneers Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, and Donna Hill, have made significant contributions to modern literature. Their works showcase the rich diversity of storytelling and its profound impact on shaping culture and fostering understanding.

The NEW VOICES ENTREPRENEUR HUB™ provides dynamic training, invaluable mentorship, extensive networking opportunities, and proudly celebrates the vibrant spirit of Black entrepreneurship. Tracy Reese and Iddris Sandu took the stage to speak to the enthusiastic crowd. The day concluded with an invigorating speech by branding guru Mellody Hobson, who shared insights on achieving corporate success.

The Four Seasons New Orleans recently hosted the first ESSENCE Black Women in Business Dinner, where they honored Serena Williams as Investor of the Year, Thasunda Brown Duckett as CEO, Esi Eggleston Bracey as Transformer, and Laysha Ward as Community Investment Pioneer. It was a night filled with celebration and recognition for these remarkable women. ESSENCE, the leading global brand for Black women, established “Black Women in…” to honor trailblazing Black women and rejoice in their remarkable accomplishments. Despite the obstacles Black women in business encounter, we are thrilled to organize a special event featuring accomplished women from various industries, senior executives from ESSENCE, stakeholders, partners, and prominent media outlets to honor our own. Notable attendees include Al Sharpton, Valeisha Butterfeild, Derek Hayes, and Pinky Cole. Rashida Jones hosted the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women in Business Dinner, which was sponsored by Entergy, Diageo, and Visa.

USHER brought his Grammy-winning album Confessions to life with electrifying evening performances. The 8th edition of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ featured the renowned R&B musician Charlie Wilson. The Coca-Cola® event featured an incredible lineup of hip hop, latin jazz funk, R&B, and soca legends including Method Man, Sheila E, Big Boi, Donell Jones, Tweet, Machel Montano, Lloyd, and the highly anticipated TGT reunion.

Recap of Day Four

Day four of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® was filled with electrifying energy as it celebrated its 30th birthday. The event was graced by the presence of Keke Palmer, Stacey Abrams, Tiwa Savage, Rickey Smiley, Regina Hall, and the sensational award-winning R&B singer SiS. The nighttime performances were filled with an electrifying lineup, featuring Janet Jackson, Victoria Monét, SWV, Tank and The Bangas featuring Teedra Moses, Hasizzle, and Dawn Richard. Additionally, there was a special tribute to Frankie Beverly and Maze, curated by Bryan-Michael Cox.

PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES FOR ESSENCE