Afrobeats on the water: Summer boat party celebrates African cultures in Boston

Banner Food & Travel Sponsored by Meet Boston

If you are looking to end your summer with a bang, the Afrobeats and Amapiano Boat Party is the place for you to be — if you are 21 and older.

The party is on Saturday, Aug. 30 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at 60 Rowes Wharf, Boston. Boarding check-in begins at 5:30; the boat party departs at 7 and will return to the dock at 10. 

The boat will have three floors. The first floor will have Afrobeats music and vibes, the second floor will have amapiano music and vibes and the third floor will be an open-air viewing deck. There will also be a cash-only bar available to order food and drinks by Suya Joint restaurants.

Afrobeats and Amapiano Boat Party. PHOTO: TOBI FALOLA & HOLLIS SARKODIEH

The party will take place rain or shine as the boat will have two indoor floors for attendees to drink, eat and dance.

Hosted by Africa 2 The World and AG Events, partners Zenoja and Allen Gbemisola talked about the importance of bringing their party to Boston.

“The number one takeaway for everyone that gets to experience this is being on the water while listening to the music and getting to experience the culture,” said Zenoja. “Everybody and anybody can come, but it’s centered around West African, South African, East African culture. We provide a little bit of a taste of that by bringing in Suya Joint, who does the catering for the event, they bring in combo meals with jollof and the suya, and then we spin the music. We bring the vibes.”

Party-goers enjoy two floors of music and dancing, and an open-air upper deck for a breath of fresh ocean air and a view of Boston’s skyline. Food and drink are provided by Suya Joint. PHOTO: TOBI FALOLA & HOLLIS SARKODIEH

Zenoja and Gbemisola also spoke about the importance of hosting cultural events in the different cities.

“It’s the people, too … you get something different in every city,” said Zenoja. “The one thing that we can count on when we’re in Boston is people that actually care. That makes it worth it for guys like us that also care. It’s when that comes together, that’s what makes it special.”

He also shared that this boat party will be extra special for him as an artist, as his first solo single with five artists from South Africa, which he will be bringing into his musical set in Boston.

The two shared their advice for community members who have never attended their boat party to encourage them to give it a chance.

“As long as you’re 21 (and) over, it’s not specific to any age group above that. We have everybody. … We have aunties. We’ve had grandparents. … It’s a general enjoyment that people get,” Zenoja said. “It’s not niche. It’s just to enjoy some food, music, [and] culture on the water.”

“My advice would be for them to come hydrated,” Gbemisola said. “[There’s] going to be a lot of dancing.”