HBCU Battle of the Bands: These are the Facts

HBCU Battle of the Bands: These are the Facts

There’s no event to mark the end of summer and the start of the academic year like the 2022 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands event. 

Battle of the Bands was founded by Derek Webber as a way to celebrate HBCU marching bands and strengthen their connection to the community. Webber, Executive producer and CEO of  Webber Marketing, is a North Carolina native and Hampton University alumnus. He has long been able to see how valuable HBCU marching bands are and continues to celebrate the unique role they play in their communities. This year, Houston Texas hosts the weekend long event where eight HBCU marching bands will be featured to kick off college marching band season. Here’s the line up: 

  • Marching Maroon & White Band - Alabama A&M University
  • The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band - Alcorn State University
  • Marching WIldcats - Bethune Cookman University
  • World Famed Tiger Marching Band - Grambling State University
  • Mighty Marching Thorobreds - Kentucky State University 
  • Blue and Gold Marching Machine - North Carolina A&T University 
  • Marching Storm Band - Prairie View A&M University
  • Human JukeBox - Southern University 

This year, the National Battle of the Bands features 3 events over the course of the weekend. Starting with the Step and Stroll: Back on the Yard Kickoff on Friday, August 26th,  get ready to watch your favorite Divine Nine fraternities and sororities strut their stuff to get the weekend started. The next day features a college recruitment fair featuring over a dozen HBCUs offering free application fees and on-site scholarships - an awesome opportunity for anyone looking to learn as much as possible about HBCUs. And finally the main event: The evening of Saturday, August 27th is what everyone is looking forward to. Watch these eight bands showcase their incredible skills while being supported by thousands of community members, current students and HBCU alumni from all over the country. 

There is nothing like the National Battle of the Bands. Derek Webber has created a nationwide event that celebrates a core element of HBCU culture. Whether you can make it or not, you can celebrate too by repping some of our favorite styles from the HBCU Love collection. 


To learn more about the National Battle of the Bands event, check out Pepsi National Battle of the Bands. And don’t forget to rep your HBCU with pride.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bibi Mama is a first generation Beninese-American actress born and raised in Mansfield, CT. Growing up she watched her father, an English professor and author, continue the Yoruba oral tradition through storytelling, which inspired her. She earned her B.F.A. from Howard University and recently finished her MFA at the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA Graduate Acting Program.
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