Fresh off a triumphant return as co-host of the ACANA Festival in Philadelphia, United States, media personality and event compere MC McKinzie sat down with NAIJA TV for an exclusive post-show interview, and her energy was as electric as the festival itself.
For the second consecutive year, she commanded the stage at one of the biggest African and Caribbean cultural showcases in the United States, and if her words are anything to go by, the experience was nothing short of divine.
“It was a great show. The turnout was way better than expected, and people came with positive energy, ready to have a good time,” she shared, her smile audible through the phone. “That just fueled the energy and made the atmosphere what it needed to be for the festival.”
The ACANA Festival, a vibrant celebration of diaspora music, food, and culture, has become a landmark event in Philadelphia, and MC McKinzie’s infectious charisma has quickly become a staple of its success. When asked how she felt upon receiving the call to close the event for a second time, her response was steeped in gratitude.
“I felt great. It’s just an honour to be invited to host the event for that platform a second time, right? Having hosted it last year and receiving the call to host it again—it’s my second year, and I’m truly grateful, humbled, honoured, and overjoyed to be called back to host it again.”
Her chemistry with the festival organisers is clearly more than a one-off professional arrangement. McKinzie revealed that the relationship has blossomed into a solid, forward-looking partnership. “My relationship with them is pretty solid because we are working on other projects and also already planning on future adventures and upcoming projects with the platform,” she disclosed.
And what should fans expect from the festival’s next edition? The host didn’t mince words. “Bigger and better. The goal is to always grow and be better than every year,” she said. “I believe that this year everybody is buzzing and talking about it, how excellent it was. Last year they did, but the noise this year was bigger and better. And the goal and hope is that next year it will be even better than it was this year.”
Beyond the ACANA high, MC McKinzie is not slowing down. Her calendar for the coming months is a testament to a woman at the top of her hosting game. She unveiled a slate of major appearances that will keep her crisscrossing the East Coast.
“I have a lot of other events lined up,” she told NAIJA TV. “I have another festival coming up that I’ll be co-hosting in Delaware on August 22, so that’s called AfroFuji. It’s gonna be a really, really good event. We’re gonna be advertising it very soon, but it’s happening in Delaware at Rodney Square in Wilmington.”
That’s not all. A September event in North Carolina is also on the horizon, alongside a steady stream of private celebrations. “I have weddings, bridal showers, birthday parties to host in the next few weeks, a few months for the rest of the year. So we stay booked and busy,” she added, before slipping in a playful note for potential clients: “But this is still available. If anybody is looking to book me for an event, just DM me or call me to check availability.”
Stay tuned to NAIJA TV for more updates on her journey and the upcoming AfroFuji festival.
