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“Kokoroko’s entrancing, groovy sounds…leapfrog genres even more gracefully, weaving Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and the larger Black music diaspora through shimmering threads of pop, R&B, and neo-soul.” – SPINLondon UK-based septet Kokoroko first formed in 2014 when Sheila Maurice-Grey trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals and Onome Edgeworth percussion met on an arts trip in Kenya, bonding over their shared tastes in music. The band, whose name means “be strong” in the Urhobo language of Nigeria, plays a fusion of funk, highlife, and Afrobeat. In 2019, they were named “ones to watch” by The Guardian after their breakthrough song “Abusey Junction” racked up 75 million streams. Now over a decade into their existence, Kokoroko also consists of Anoushka Nanguy vocals/trombone, Ayo Salawu drums, Duane Atherley bass, Tobi Adenaike-Johnson guitar and Yohan Kebede keyboards. The musicians of this critically acclaimed ensemble have roots in West Africa but have grown to represent the musical melting point and wide range of tastes emblematic of Londoners in the black diaspora. Their latest album, Tuff Times Never Last (2025), is a prime example of this, venturing in and around 80s Brit-funk, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, rock and funk. Celebrating their heritage while continuously expanding their horizons, this is Kokoroko at their optimum best, and you are invited to witness their Victoria debut at TD JazzFest 2026!
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Event Venue
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street,Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
