Wizkid among big acts at this year’s Starboy Fest in Cyprus

Sunning under the Cyprian sky and sipping cocktails while the rhythms of the African diaspora punctuate the breeze is a fantasy brought to life for attendees of this month’s Starboy Fest. The weeklong party is being headlined by Nigerian sensation Wizkid, with the main festivals happening on Sept. 8 through 10, thrown in partnership with Music of Africa. Wizkid’s career has spanned decades, but his collaborations with Drake on 2016 hit “One Dance” and Beyonce on Black is King’s ode to femininity and melanin “Brown Skin Girl,” released in 2018, brought him to higher levels of acclaim with American audiences. His 2020 releases, an album called “Made in Lagos”, and one of its hit tracks, “Essence,” earned two Grammy nominations and his most recent release, an LP called “More Love Less Ego,” was released just last month and features names like Ty Dolla Sign and UK rapper Skepta.

In addition to concert stages, festival-goers will have the chance to attend exclusive events like beach parties with a sunset backdrop, day parties where the dance floor is a yacht deck, bikini-clad parties by the pool, brunches catered with Afro-Caribbean fare, high-octane club nights and sunrise-defying after parties. The festival setting, a resort town called Ayia Napa, is a star on the rise in the region, with 27 beaches, over 175 hotels and significant investment in upgrading offerings for tourists since 2013. In addition to absorbing the sounds of the stage, visitors will have access to the town’s amusement park, snorkeling over reefs dotted with underwater statues, visiting the botanical cactus park and taking a chance to cast a line and go fishing. Between the sonic offerings on tap with slated performances and the sandy shores setting the scene, the days are sure to be filled with sun-drenched smiles for all those in attendance.

This story was originally published September 5, 2022 at 9:00 AM.