Fresh off of a bout with COVID, theGrio’s Shakirah Gittens braved her first-ever Essence Fest—and found healing she could’ve never expected. Floating down the Mississippi River in one of New Orleans’ ...

When you’ve got a voice as amazing as 2018 ESSENCE Festival performer Fantasia’s, it would seem that getting nervous about a performance would be out of the question. As it turns out, even Mrs. Taylor ...

In the heart of the vibrant and sultry city of New Orleans, there exists a phenomenon that transcends mere music and culture—it’s an experience, a celebration of life itself. For nearly three decades, ...

Essies, we all remember our very first Essence Fest; action-packed, fun-filled and HOT! Year after year we bear the New Orleans heat to create a memorable experience for our loyal supporters and this ...

In this episode of My First ESSENCE Festival with Sevyn Streeter, see Sevyn’s musical roots and how she evolved as a performer. From the Apollo stage to the ESSENCE Festival stage, witness the musical ...

Aaliyah, Barack Obama, Beyonce, Oprah and more have given us some of the Festival's most amazing moments over the years. One of the most unique things about the ESSENCE Festival each year is our ...

In 2022, the Essence Festival of Culture bounced back in-person following two years of virtual-only festivities during the pandemic. But this year is the real reboot. The 2023 Essence Fest, which ...

OWN’s Time Of Essence first episode of the five-part docuseries, with the magazine’s early origins, starting in the 1970s by four Black men—Ed Lewis, Cecil Hollingsworth, Clarence Smith and Jonathan ...

Floating down the Mississippi River in one of New Orleans’ legendary steamboats, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. I had come to my first Essence Fest for work, but the “festival of culture” had ...