London Afrobeat Collective
London Afrobeat Collective is 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 group of 8 musicians from England, Italy, France, Congo, Argentina & New Zealand combines traditional Afrobeat with funk, jazz, rock, Latin and dub to create party-music born of its truly global DNA.
A regular on the touring circuit around the UK and Europe, celebrated for their raucous energy, heavy dance grooves and conscious lyrics, the band has rocked major stages from the Glastonbury Festival 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 the father of Afrobeat Fela Kuti, as well as artists including Ebo Taylor, Parliament, Funkadelic & Havana d’Primera, London Afrobeat Collective’s original music and multi-lingual performances in English, Spanish, Lingala, and French have won them admirers across all Europe. Their fourth studio album Esengo (Canopy Records – released on 14 February 2024), which means ‘Joy’ in Lingala, includes the new single Topesa Esengo Na Motema. Produced by Sonny Johns (Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela, Oumou Sangare, Ali Farke Toure, Polar Bear), the piece finds the band in a lighter yet spirited mood, celebrating the joy of living, reconnecting, and getting back on the road once more.
Line-Up:
Juanita Euka: vocals
Alex Farrell: rhythm guitar
Alex Szyjanowicz: lead guitar
John Mathews/Luigi Casanova: bass
Giuliano Osella: drums
Richie Sweet: percussion
Klibens Michelet: baritone sax
Andy Watts: trumpet
