The dust has settled on Essence Fest 2023 and I took almost two months to reflect on the highs and lows of this year’s event due to my multifaceted position in media. I not only experienced the event as press covering it but as a publicist with clients attending. While the festival had its moments of brilliance, there were also aspects that left attendees and vendors with a bitter taste in their mouths.
The communication this year was less than stellar, with the press experience falling short of expectations. The constant shifting of entrance points at the night concert was a source of frustration for many. The vendor market was disorganized, leading to confusion and missed opportunities.
Despite these hiccups, the festival had its high points. The surprise performance from Lil Wayne had us all running out of the press room like teenagers. Missy Elliot’s electrifying performance and Megan Thee Stallion’s high-energy set, despite its abrupt end, were definite crowd-pleasers.
The convention center was a hive of activity during the daytime, with the highlight for me being the opportunity to interview Debra Lee, former CEO of BET, and up-and-coming talent.
However, the festival felt somewhat detached from its host city, New Orleans. It was as if the festival was in New Orleans, but not a part of it. This sentiment was echoed by many attendees, including Teja Smith, founder of Get Social, who voiced her concerns online. Her video, which criticized the lack of emphasis on issues affecting Black Women, the main attendees at Essence Festival of Culture, went viral on TikTok and Twitter.
The official Essence Fest page initially welcomed the feedback, but the exchange quickly turned sour, resulting in Smith being blocked. This was a surprising and disappointing turn of events.
However, a last-minute intervention by God-is Rivera, the new Chief Content Officer, and Hakeem Holmes, the head of Essence Fest, changed the narrative. Despite being new to their roles, they were open to feedback and willing to engage in an open and honest conversation.
This conversation was a turning point. It was a reminder that Essence Fest is uniquely ours, and that there is room for improvement. But these improvements can only happen through respectful, open, and honest communication.
In conclusion, Essence Fest 2023 was a mixed bag. There were highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments. But the festival is ours, and it’s up to us to shape its future. As the needs and expectations of Black Women evolve, so too should the festival. The music acts will change, the activations will change, but the heart of the festival–the community–should remain the same.
So, let’s not give up on Essence Festival. Let’s work together to make it better, to keep making it truly ours. Because at the end of the day, the Essence Festival is a celebration of Black Women, and that’s something worth fighting for.
Valese Jones
