Africa's foray into Afropunk has been hailed as a massive success.
Despite the disappointment of headliner Solange Knowles not making it, on December 30 and 31 thousands of party people from all over the world flocked to Johannesburg for the first Afropunk festival held on African soil.
An annual event in New York, Paris, London and Atlanta, Afropunk is a multicultural movement that celebrates blackness and freedom of artistic expression.
Inspired by a 2003 documentary about black punks in the US, it expanded into an event featuring soul music, and now embraces many other musical genres as well.
"Afropunk is a united movement fighting for social justice, change and equality," said founder Matthew Morgan. Its slogans include No Sexism, No Racism, No Ageism, No Homophobia, No Fatphobia, No Transphobia and No Hatefulness.
Punk, driven by frustrated working-class youth in the 1970s, was a rejection of mainstream values and economic inequality. The "Afro" part was added by black youth to mark their own place in what was then predominantly a white subculture. At the time, young black activists grew their hair as a sign of rebellion.
"Seeing ourselves in a positive light, in all our glory, is really important," said Morgan. "We've created a culture of music, fashion and art in which we own our identity."
South Africa's Afropunk event took place on Constitution Hill, once the site of an apartheid prison."We are here to reconnect with our ancestors, our history and our heritage. South Africa feeds us with inspiration," said Morgan.
Audience members expressed themselves through their clothing, with young women rocking in traditional Zulu hats, men in beaded Xhosa regalia, and some free-spirited women who didn't mind revealing their nipples...