Over 35,000 people attended Diaspora Calling! a UK concert which celebrated African and Caribbean culture and artists.
From Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean to Erykah Badu, Fireboy DML to Kano and Giggs, the concert brought global icons to stage at the Milton Keynes National Bowl in England.
An event conceived and curated by Ms. Lauryn Hill and hosted by Dave Chappelle, Hill and Jean celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Fugees’ landmark album “The Score” performing hits “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La.”
The set also featured their individual catalogs, with Wyclef Jean performing “911” and Hill delivering solo favorites including “Ex-Factor,” “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, joined by Erykah Badu.
YG Marley and Zion Marley also joined Hill and Jean onstage, while The Compozers performed alongside Hill during the closing set.
Among the night’s biggest surprises, Kano joined Giggs during his set for “P’s & Q’s” and “Rudeboy,” bringing together two of the most influential voices in British rap.
Afrobeats artist Fireboy DML also performed and YG Marley performed his global hit “Praise Jah in the Moonlight.”
Zion Marley performed his grandfather Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” before delivering his own song “Best of Me,” while Seun Kuti brought the force and political tradition of Afrobeat to the National Bowl.
Connecting generations of Black music and culture across Africa, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and the United States, MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy also delivered a special message from Ms. Hill about reparatory justice, the importance of strengthening connections across the African diaspora.
Diaspora Calling! attendees included Gunna, Common, Rapsody, Tiwa Savage, Little Simz, Stonebwoy, Victony, Derek Chisora, Sabrina Elba, Tolu Coker, Zeze Millz and Foday Dumbuya.
