Home · ESSENCE Festival Durban

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here's A Look At What You Missed Last Year

Get in gear for ESSENCE Fest Durban 2017 with a look back at all the amazing moments from the 2016 festivities.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE_GUMEDE
By Essence ·

ESSENCE Festival is bringing the party with a purpose back to Durban, South Africa for the second year in a row! Scroll through to take a look at some of the amazing moments from 2016’s inaugural Durban Festival and then be sure to check out the official ESSENCE Fest Durban 2017 webpage HERE for more info on this year’s Festival, happening September 26 – October 1.

01
Durban 2016
Marjorie Harvey and Tina Knowles-Lawson pause for a fab photo-op while enjoying enjoying ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Robert Ector/Instagram
02
Durban 2016
Award-winning Gospel signing duo Mary Mary rock the stage at ESSENCE Fest Durban!
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
03
Durban 2016
Burna Boy lights up the stage at ESSENE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
04
Durban 2016

A breathtaking fashion moment on the beach in Durban? Yes, please!

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
05
Durban 2016

Stylish attendees flooded the streets during ESSENCE Festival Durban.

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
06
Durban 2016
Steve Harvey speaks to attendees during ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Mthoko
07
Durban 2016

Another scene-stealing style moment caught on camera during ESSENCE Festival Durban.

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
08
Durban 2016

Bring your bestie and be ready to strike a pose at ESSENCE Fest Durban.

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
09
Durban 2016

We can’t get over the beauty and culture seen at ESSENCE Festival Durban!

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
10
Durban 2016
You never know who you’ll meet at ESSENCE Fest Durban!
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
ESSENCE
11
Durban 2016
Talented songstress Estelle takes a moment to reflect during a conversation on the Empowerment Stage at ESSENCE Fest Durban,
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
ESSENCE
12
Durban 2016
Black love is always on display at ESSENCE Fest and Durban is no exception!
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
13
Durban 2016
It was a never ending celebration of culture at last year’s ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
14
Durban 2016
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
15
Durban 2016
Powerhouse Gospel songstress Yolanda Adams definitely left her mark on ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
ESSENCE
16
Durban 2016
Marvelous wearable art fashions took over the streets of the city during several performances from local dancer groups at ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
17
Durban 2016
President Jacob Zuma and Ethekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede honor vocalist Ladysmith Black Mambazos during Essence Festival Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
18
Durban 2016
Ne-Yo kept the crowd on their feet with an electrifying performance at ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
19
Durban 2016
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
20
Durban 2016
Babes Wodumo wows the crowd with her performance at ESSENCE Festival Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
21
Durban 2016
Ladysmith Black Mambazo shut down the stage with her performance at ESSENCE Festival Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Khaya Ngwenya/Gallo Images/Getty Images
22
Durban 2016

The street style was second to none during ESSENCE Festival Durban.

ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
Trevor Stuurman
23
Durban 2016
Priceless advice for business owners and budding entrepreneurs left attendees enlightened following the ESSENCE Festival Durban Business Conference.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
24
Durban
Jaw-dropping statement pieces are an everyday sight in Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
25
Durban 2016
An attendee snaps the perfect selfie while styling in the streets of Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
26
Durban 2016
Fashionistas strut their stuff during the Street Style show at ESSENCE Festival Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
27
Durban 2016
DJ Black Coffee kept the party doing during ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
28
Durban 2016
Durban at sunset is truly a sight to see!
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
29
Durban 2016
Squad goals were plentiful at ESSENCE Fest Durban.
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE
30
Durban 2016
The Lawsons are all smile while posing with ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Vanessa DeLuca
ESSENCE Festival Is Heading Back To Durban! Here’s A Look At What You Missed Last Year
BONGIWE GUMEDE