Return of Essence Festival to New Orleans will be bigger, 'unapologetically Blacker’

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The two year break and the upheavals that have accompanied the pandemic, which have highlighted the persistence of racial injustice in the country as well as gender issues, has given new impetus to changes underway before the pandemic to broaden the festival's appeal, said Wanga (Essence CEO).

But she said the move to have more diversity and inclusiveness at Essence Fest shouldn't mean any dilution of the celebration of Blackness that has been at its center for a quarter century.

"It is unapologetically Blacker and I think part of why that's culturally important to say is that Black folks when they gather have often been made to feel like they need to tone it down a little bit so that other people can participate," said Wanga. "We are going to have our Blackety-Black-Black party and everybody is welcome but we're going to do it our way."