Kokolo
“Trouble Come, Trouble Go” (mp3)
from “The Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revival”
(Rough Guides/World Music Network)

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Originally formed as a traditional Afrobeat ensemble, Kokolo took their name from a Spanish Harlem term used to describe devout followers of Afro music and over the years developed a far more energetic and spikier sound than many of their contemporaries, proving adept at broadening their scope by incorporating influences from other genres, ultimately transforming their sound into what The New York Times described as “The sound of Fela Kuti meeting The Clash at a late-70’s Hip Hop Jam in Spanish Harlem”.

Ray Lugo, KOKOLO’s charismatic leader, expands: “I thought it would be interesting to make explicit the implicit connection that exists between Nigerian Afrobeat and American Funk and explore the musical dialogue that took place across the Atlantic during that golden era, a dialogue that also included the New York Latin sound, which was also highly regarded and influential in Africa at the time“… Heavy Hustling is the result of this exploration.”

On stage, few would disagree that KOKOLO delivers one the most dynamic shows today, often playing for 3 hours non-stop in a frenzied punky Afro party. “The stage is our bridge to the world” states Lugo, “it is the primary reason this band exists, to spread soulful music around the globe”. Their well-known reputation for electrifying concerts has seen them perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages in dozens of countries around the globe, such as The Montreal Jazz Festival, Glastonbury and scores of others.

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