Kokoroko Afrobeat Collective are one of London’s most exciting new afrobeat outfits. They are formed from a collection of young musicians brought together by a love for afrobeat. The band was kickstarted only 2 years ago and since then have been shaking up the London live music scene with their speciality brand of soul-shaking, horn-fuelled rhythms with West African roots and inner-London hues.
Having spent the first half of 2016 lighting up stages at venues across town (such as Hootananny’s, Jazz re:freshed at Mau Mau’s, and the Railway Tavern, Tulse Hill), we caught up with them at this year’s Brainchild Festival 2016, a small, independent festival that aims to bring together the bold and imaginative work of the UK’s young creative minds for a weekend program of live music, jam sessions, spoken word, DJ sets, talks, workshops, film, theatre and installation art.
Straight off the stage at Steez Cafe, Sheila, Cassie and Mutale joined us for a sofa session under the fairy lights to tell us about the origins of Kokoroko, to talk us through the meaning behind their music, and to explain what it meant to play at a festival like Brainchild.
https://www.facebook.com/kokorokomusic/
http://2016.brainchildfestival.co.uk/