Afrobeats Oakland is redefining the culture and identity of African music within dance spaces across the U.S. We are intentionally reshaping narratives to push boundaries forward, with a mission to foster intercultural dialogue and explore how we see ourselves within this vibrant cultural movement.
Afrobeats Oakland was co-founded by music specialist/ creative director, Juan G, and production director, Asaba Kugonza, in 2019. Longtime Oakland residents with unique first-generation immigrant backgrounds and a strong vision rooted in both the recognition of Oakland's rich diverse cultural history as well as a desire to move the conversation around arts and music forward. Juan G has been an active performer, photojournalist, and event curator in the bay area for over 15 years, and was most recently the Director of Lifestyle Marketing for the African Diaspora at EMPIRE. Previously, he worked as Head of African Music Programming and Content at Pandora.
Originally from Uganda, Asaba has been an event producer in Oakland since 2013, spearheading several prestigious events showcasing local and international talent. He currently works in the fashion industry as a both a model and creative director in NY, LA and the bay area.