Kokoroko: The London Vanguard of Afrobeat

Kokoroko is a dynamic London-based collective at the forefront of the contemporary Afrobeat and jazz scene. The eight-piece band has garnered international acclaim, most notably for their 2019 single Abusey Junction, which became a viral streaming sensation and a defining track of the modern jazz revival.

Early career

Kokoroko was formed in London in 2014, emerging from the city's fertile grassroots jazz community. The band's name, meaning "be strong" in the Nigerian Urhobo language, reflects its West African musical foundations and the leadership of guitarist and composer Sheila Maurice-Grey.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough arrived in 2019 with the release of the We Out Here compilation album on Brownswood Recordings, a landmark project showcasing the new London jazz movement. Kokoroko's contribution, the serene and expansive Abusey Junction, amassed tens of millions of streams, catapulting the band to global recognition and establishing them as headliners.

Key tracks

Abusey Junction — This atmospheric, slow-burning instrumental became a viral phenomenon and remains the band's signature track.

Baba Ayoola — A celebratory and energetic piece from their debut EP that highlights their powerful horn sections and rhythmic complexity.

Carry Me Home — Featured on the We Out Here compilation, this track showcases their ability to blend traditional African highlife with modern London jazz sensibilities.

Dide O — A standout from their self-titled 2022 debut album, illustrating their evolved, more layered studio sound.

The band solidified their studio prowess with the 2022 release of their debut full-length album, Kokoroko, on Brownswood Recordings. This album presented a more intricate and composed side of the ensemble, moving beyond their live reputation into richer sonic territories. They have since performed at major festivals worldwide and collaborated with notable artists like drummer Tony Allen, a co-founder of Afrobeat.

Fans of Kokoroko's vibrant fusion should also explore the work of similar artists shaping the UK jazz landscape. Ezra Collective shares the same energetic, festival-ready approach to merging Afrobeat with jazz. Nubya Garcia is another key figure from the London scene, weaving deep spiritual jazz and Caribbean rhythms. The Comet Is Coming offers a more psychedelic and electronic-infused take on instrumental energy. Yussef Dayes delivers complex, rhythmically driving jazz that appeals to the same adventurous listener.

The music of Kokoroko is a staple on modern jazz, world music, and eclectic alternative radio stations featured on this website. Their rich instrumental textures and cross-cultural grooves make them a perfect fit for stations dedicated to innovative and globally-inspired sounds, from dedicated online jazz streams to influential independent music radio stations.

Listeners can discover the powerful sound of Kokoroko by tuning into the radio stations available on onairium.com, where their music is regularly featured in rotations celebrating the best in contemporary Afrobeat and jazz.