London afrobeat collective

BIOGRAPHY

London Afrobeat Collective are a tight-knit family of musicians from around the world, living in London and united by a love of afrobeat and a desire to take original music to new places.

This 8-strong collective from England, Italy, France, Congo, Argentina and New Zealand combine traditional afrobeat and hi-life with funk, jazz, Latin and dub to deliver party music born of their truly global DNA. A regular hit on the UK and Europe touring circuit and celebrated for their raucous energy, heavy dance grooves and conscious lyrics, the band has rocked major stages from Glastonbury Festival (UK) to the Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, via Imagina Funk (Spain), Fusion Festival (Germany), Cully Jazz (Switzerland), Tempo Latino (France), Earth Garden (Malta) and many more.

Taking inspiration from afrobeat father Fela Kuti as well as such artists as Ebo Taylor, Parliament Funkadelic and Havana d’Primera, LAC’s original music and multi-lingual performances in English, Spanish, Lingala and French have won them admirers across Europe.

Topesa Esengo Na Motema (Let Us Give Joy To The Heart) is the lead single from the forthcoming album Esengo (Canopy Records - release date 14 Feb 2024), which means Joy in Lingala. Produced by Sonny Johns (Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela, Oumou Sangare, Ali Farke Toure, Polar Bear) the track finds the band in lighter mood, celebrating the joy of living, reconnecting and getting back on the road once more. The single is accompanied by a remix from producer and DJ Bosq (https://www.bosqmusic.com/) that gives the song a unique afro-latin disco twist.

And with recent knock out performances stretching from opening the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (Scotland) to Bardentreffen (Germany), Tempo Latino (France) Couleur Café (Brussels), Cully Jazz (Switzerland), Earth Garden (Malta), Kala (Albania), Jazz in the Park (Romania) and many more venues across Europe, the future is joyful for London Afrobeat Collective.

DISCOGRAPHY

<a href="https://londonafrobeatcollective.bandcamp.com/album/freedom">Freedom by London Afrobeat Collective</a>

<a href="https://londonafrobeatcollective.bandcamp.com/album/topesa-esengo-na-motema">Topesa Esengo Na Motema by London Afrobeat Collective</a>

<a href="https://londonafrobeatcollective.bandcamp.com/album/humans">HUMANS by London Afrobeat Collective</a>

<a href="https://londonafrobeatcollective.bandcamp.com/album/food-chain">Food Chain by London Afrobeat Collective</a>

PRESS QUOTES

“I’ve never witnessed so much joy as that on Saturday night at Band on the Wall. London Afrobeat Collective (LAC) performed a staggering energetic gig to a crowd raring to dance and get their groove on.”
Manchester Jazz Festival - Rachel Maby

“All of the musicians are superb, they're tight as hell, and they write and play great songs!”
Trebuchet Magazine

“LAC have a mighty arsenal of funk licks, afrobeat grooves and the exciting swagger of The Specials when they started...”
Subba Cultcha

"Incredible live band ….seen them live a couple of times they're a great ….good Afrobeat credentials there for sure"
Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2

“ fantastic emblem of the vibrant London Afrobeat scene… the group establish a perfectly mixed groove that immediately ensnares the listener”
Songlines review of Humans (4 Stars)

“[London Afrobeat Collective have] an ability to bring the late night Saturday party vibe… with a sonic stew which was infectious and accessible”
The Scotsman (4 stars)