It’s always a special treat when a musical legend like Lauryn Hill hits the stage—but this weekend, the artist commanded a different kind of spotlight for her fans.
In Milton Keynes, England, the singer—along with a group of her closest creative friends—kicked off her second-ever Diaspora Calling! festival, which was born in 2016 out of a desire to spotlight music, art, and political dialogues across the African diaspora. “The goal of Diaspora Calling! has always been to highlight, reflect, and reveal the creative abundance of the diaspora,” Hill tells Vogue. “In addition to artists and musicians, we wanted to involve visual artists, designers, brands, community organizers, and anyone solutions-oriented with something impactful to contribute.”
Hill’s first Diaspora Calling! festival was originally held at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, and the idea for the gathering had ignited after Hill met her now-close friend, the creative multi-hyphenate Alvin Bekoe. “He, his best friend, and their colleagues had formed a recording label called BbnZ Live,” recalls Hill. “He went to great lengths to bring me out to Ghana to perform after I’d spent three months in a federal facility (long story), with the intent of looking after me for the years of music he’d appreciated. Our friendship formed immediately.”
Hill in her Diaspora Calling! festival look, custom-made by Kids of Immigrants.
Photo: Rosanna Elettra
Flash-forward to a decade later, and Hill felt it was the right time to revive the festival. To do so, they brought the affair to the National Bowl, a massive outdoor space that gathered 35,000 attendees. The festival was hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle, and featured performers and speakers such as Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu, YG Marley, Zion Marley, Giggs, and many more. “It was an incredible location—the image of the crowd from my vantage point was quite moving,” says Hill.
Among the highlights, Hill performed her hits such as “Doo Wop (That Thing)” with Badu, while artist Zion Marley performed the track “Three Little Birds” by his grandfather, Bob Marley. For Hill and the festival organizers, it was all about finding a lineup of creatives that represented the beautiful diversity found across the diaspora. “We put a call out to people that we know, love and respect—who also put out calls to people that they knew, loved, and respected,” says Hill. “The response from the creative community wanting to participate or support was incredible. My children were an obvious inclusion.” (Her sons, YG and Zion, performed alongside her.)
