Sarkodie fumes over ‘extremely disorganised’ Afro+Fest after nearly pulling out of performance

Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie expressed his displeasure with the organization of Afro+Fest in Maryland, United States, after nearly canceling his appearance at the three-day festival. On the second day of the event on September 5, the rapper took to social media to share his experience, stating that mental preparation was required before he stepped onto the stage.

Sarkodie wrote, "Almost cancelled my performance at Afro fest tonight but the fans always a good reason not to … literally had to psych myself to get on that stage." He further described the event's organization as "extremely disorganized." Despite his dissatisfaction, Sarkodie acknowledged that the audience's response made the experience worthwhile.

He concluded his post with a plea, "Glad at least the fans had a good time … y'all get your sh*t together."

Sarkodie's frustration seemed to mirror that of some fans, who voiced disappointment on social media over the event's organization and the treatment of the artist during his set. Reports indicated that his performance time was delayed, and his set was cut short along with those of other artists. Additionally, Sarkodie's microphone was reportedly cut off while he was performing, causing further disappointment among the fans who had traveled specifically to see him.

However, despite the setbacks, Sarkodie delivered one of the festival's memorable moments when his hit song "Adonai" was played. The rapper proudly raised the Ghanaian flag as the song played, and the enthusiastic crowd sang and responded to his performance. The Afro+Fest event brought together prominent figures from Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall, and other African and Caribbean music scenes, with organizers expanding the festival following its debut in 2025.