8 musicians. One goal. To increase the positive energy in the world by making people dance!

London Afrobeat Collective are a tight-knit family of musicians from around the world, living in London and united by a love of afrobeat and a desire to take original music to new places.

From Europe to Africa, Glastonbury Festival to Felabration in Lagos, they deliver party-music born of their truly global DNA. The 8-strong collective from England, Italy, France, Congo, Argentina and New Zealand combine traditional afrobeat with funk, jazz, rock, Latin and dub to create something unique.

In the early days, the band received a major boost when their 2010 debut album L.A.C. propelled them through the Glastonbury Emerging Talent contest to opening the West Holts stage in 2011. A host of festival dates followed (Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Green Man, Cheltenham Jazz Festival) and by 2015, when they released their second album Food Chain, they began to tour in continental Europe, whilst continuing to appear at UK festivals, and maintaining a regular presence at London venues.

The band combines a love and respect for the traditions of afrobeat with a willingness to create original music that crosses genres. They were honoured to be invited to play at Felabration at the Shrine in Lagos as part of their Nigerian tour and have collaborated live and in the studio with afrobeat greats Dele Sosimi and Tony Allen.

Performing in English, Spanish, Lingala, Yoruba and French and mixing traditional afrobeat with funk, jazz, rock, Latin and dub influences, London Afrobeat Collective developed an original sound that helps them to connect with diverse audiences.

Topesa Esengo Na Motema (Let Us Give Joy To The Heart) is the lead single from the forthcoming album Esengo (Canopy Records - release date 14 Feb 2024), which means Joy in Lingala. Produced by Sonny Johns (Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela, Oumou Sangare, Ali Farke Toure, Polar Bear) the track finds the band in a lighter mood, celebrating the joy of living, reconnecting, and getting back on the road once more. The single is accompanied by a remix from producer and DJ Bosq (https://www.bosqmusic.com/) that gives the song a unique Afro-Latin disco twist.

And with recent knock-out performances stretching from opening the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (Scotland) to Bardentreffen (Germany), Tempo Latino (France), Couleur Café (Brussels), Cully Jazz (Switzerland), Earth Garden (Malta), Kala (Albania), Jazz in the Park (Romania) and many more venues across Europe, the future is joyful for London Afrobeat Collective.

What are people saying about LAC?

...whether it’s the beats, the brass, singer Juanita Euka’s jumpsuit or the flashy lighting effects above the stage, they leave Leith Theatre bursting with colour. The nine-piece supply honest-to-goodness party music. Rhythmically complex, but the effect it has on an audience is fairly straightforward – direct to your core and out through your dancing feet.

The Wee Review, Edinburgh - Robert Peacock

I’ve never witnessed so much joy as that on Saturday night at Band on the Wall. London Afrobeat Collective (LAC) performed a staggering energetic gig to a crowd raring to dance and get their groove on.

Manchester Jazz Festival – Rachel Maby

“[London Afrobeat Collective have] an ability to bring the late night Saturday party vibe… with a sonic stew which was infectious and accessible”

The Scotsman (4 stars)

"Incredible live band ….seen them live a couple of times they're a great ….good Afrobeat credentials there for sure"

Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2

“ fantastic emblem of the vibrant London Afrobeat scene… the group establish a perfectly mixed groove that immediately ensnares the listener”

Songlines review of Humans (4 Stars)

London Afrobeat Collective are…

Juanita Euka - Vocals

Alex Farrell - Guitar
Alexis Szyjanowicz - Guitar

Luigi Casanova - Bass
Giuliano Osella - Drums
Richie Sweet - Percussion

Andy Watts - Trumpet
Klibens Michelet - Baritone Sax