KOKOROKO
Genres: African Fusion, Jazz Related Electronica, Hip-Hop • United Kingdom

Kokoroko first formed in 2014 when Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals) and Onome Edgeworth (percussion) met on an arts trip in Kenya. The two bonded over their frustration with the lack of racial and gender diversity in the UK’s afrobeat and highlife scenes. A desire to repair the disconnect young people in the African diaspora had with traditional African music would also fuel the band’s genesis. In 2018, their breakthrough was secured when the sparse and understated ‘Abusey Junction’ was included on Gilles Peterson’s ‘We Out Here’ compilation. Off the back of the newfound visibility the track afforded them, Kokoroko soon found themselves playing a large role in epitomising what would come to be known as “the new age London jazz scene”. 4 years later, after much heightened anticipation, they released their debut album ‘Could We Be More’. A sinewy blend of afrobeat, highlife and jazz, the album scored platitudes read more...