Kokoroko (stylised as KOKOROKO) is a London-based eight-piece musical group led by Sheila Maurice-Grey, playing a fusion of jazz and Afrobeat. In February 2019 they were named “ones to watch” by the Guardian, after their track “Abusey Junction” garnered 23 million views on YouTube. In February 2020 they won Best Group at the Urban Music Awards. In September 2020 they played BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
Tye complete line up is: Sheila Maurice-Grey (Trumpet, Vocals) Cassie Kinoshi (Alto Sax, Vocals) Richie Seivwright (Trombone, Vocals) Onome Edgeworth (Percussion) Ayo Salawu (Drums) Tobi Adenaike-Johnson (Guitar) Yohan Kebede (Synthesizers, Keyboards) and Duane Atherley (Bass, Synthesizers, Keyboards)
Kokoroko channel the greats of West Africa through a jazz-rooted approach, building on the foundations laid by Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and Ebo Taylor; they lace interrelated influences together into a soul shaking, horn fueled sound. They draw from the music they grew up with, the echoes of Afrobeat and highlife heard in melodies, drum patterns and harmonised vocals. They specialise in a soul shaking, horn fuelled sound with West African roots and inner London hues.
In June 2022 Kokoroko announced their new track ‘Age Of Ascent’. This third single sees the London Afrobeat collective in a more reflective mood… sharing four minutes of timelessly grooving spacey magic. They released their debut album Could We Be More in August 2022.
