Artist Spotlights: KOKOROKO Brings Afrobeat to London
The London-based jazz group KOKOROKO re-envision their West African ancestors’ music with soulful style.
Artist Spotlights introduces you to artists that may not be on your radar yet, but should be. With recently cancelled tours and income loss for small artists, there’s no time like the present to find new talent to support.
Written by C.S. Harper
Photo courtesy of Nina Manandhar
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With only five songs under its belt, KOKOROKO is already cementing itself as a prominent player in the London jazz scene. Led by trumpeter-vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey, the seven piece collective first gained attention with their 2016 cover of Fela Kuti’s “Colonial Mentality,” gaining over 3 million views. Three years later, KOKOROKO released their debut self-titled EP with universal acclaim, including an impressive 9/10 review from The Line of Best Fit. The band also made The Guardian’s “Ones to Watch” series as well as NPR’s “The Austin 100” and was set to play the San Francisco Jazz Festival and South by Southwest before their COVID-19 cancellations.
KOKOROKO owes its success to its innovative brand of jazz. Inspired by artists like Tony Allen and Fela Kuti, KOKOROKO makes music that celebrates its members’ West African heritage and British upbringing. The band creates a perfect marriage between soul and afrobeat, combining the rhythm-driven West African style of jazz with mellow guitars and keys.
The 2019 EP KOKOROKO opens with “Adwa,” an homage to the 1896 Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia. According to the group’s Bandcamp, the song draws “from the syncopated funk of Ethio-jazz… [to reflect on] the way societies evolve in the aftermath of conflict.” Written by keyboardist Yohan Kebede, “Adwa” begins with an upbeat bassline, guitars, and keys before a low-key horn section kicks in to mellow out the sound. The song has a high-energy mood throughout, ending with a two-minute guitar solo accompanied by a rowdy sax solo reminiscent of Kamasi Washington.
Following “Adwa,” lullaby “Ti-de” brings a more soulful, West African folk sound. The most percussive track on the album, its minimalistic horn melodies and low-key vocals complement its lulling guitar riffs and drums. In contrast, the jazz fusion gem “Uman” reintroduces the energetic tone of “Adwa.” It begins with victorious horns playing a march-like rhythm before devolving into groovy soul melodies. Described by Maurice-Grey as a “celebration of… Black women,” it appropriately features majestic instrumentation and the most prominent female vocals on the album.
The EP closes with “Abusey Junction,” the only song with an English name. This track was largely responsible for catapulting KOKOROKO to fame — its music video has reached a whopping 38 million views as of 2020. The attention is well-deserved, as “Abusey Junction” features some of the richest guitar work on the album. Inspired by Ebo Taylor’s horn lines and a composition by the band’s guitarist Oscar Jerome, the song has a soothing, dreamlike sound. As described on KOKOROKO’s Bandcamp, it “captures the sunset hum of Gambia’s nocturnal landscapes.” It serves as the perfect closing track for the album, combining soulful guitar lines, afrobeat rhythms, and soft horns into a beautiful composition.
Image courtesy of Brownswood Recordings
Following the success of its EP, KOKOROKO has been preparing for the release of its debut album in March 2021. The band members started 2020 with a seven date UK tour, along with appearances at various festivals in Europe. More recently in March, they released a new single called “Carry Me Home.” Inspired by English-Nigerian keyboardist Dele Sosimi, the song introduces a funkier sound for the band. The percussion takes a backseat on the track, featuring lively keys and horn solos accompanied by soothing vocal lines that tie the fusion and funk elements together.
With its consistent stream of new material over the past year, KOKOROKO has been hyping itself up to be a leader in London’s jazz revival. Through its blend of afrobeat, soul, and funk, KOKOROKO is carrying the legacies of underappreciated West African artists and sharing them with the world.