Kokoroko

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Kokoroko
OriginLondon, England
GenresJazz, Afrobeat
Members
  • Sheila Maurice-Grey
  • Onome Edgeworth
  • Noushy Nanguy
  • Yohan Kebede
  • Duane Atherley
  • Tobi Adenaike
  • Ayo Salawu
Websitekokorokomusic.co.uk

Kokoroko is a British London-based septet, led by Sheila Maurice-Grey and Onome Edgeworth playing a fusion of funk and highlife.[1][2][3] In February 2019, they were named "ones to watch" by The Guardian, after their track "Abusey Junction" garnered 57 million views on YouTube.[4] "Abusey Junction" won Track of the Year at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards in 2019.[5]

In February 2020, they won Best Group at the Urban Music Awards.[6] In September 2020, they played BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.[7] Their name is an Urhobo word meaning "be strong" or "hard to break".[8]

They released their debut album Could We Be More in August 2022.[9] The Guardian named it one of the top ten jazz albums of the year.[10] Also in 2022, the band were nominated for Band of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards.[11]

Their second album, Tuff Times Never Last was released on 11 July 2025.[12]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
UK
[13]
Could We Be More
  • Released: 2022
  • Label: Brownswood[9]
 30
Tuff Times Never Last
  • Released: 11 July 2025
  • Label: Brownswood[9]

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected chart positions
Title EP details Peak chart
positions
UK
[14]
Kokoroko
  • Released: 2019
  • Label: Brownswood[9]
Live At Metropolis
  • Released: 18 April 2026
  • Label: Brownswood
  • RSD 2026 exclusive[15]

References

  1. Hewett, Ivan (8 September 2020). "Kokoroko, Proms Live 2020, Royal Albert Hall, review: the band was delightful, but jazz needs an audience". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  2. "Kokoroko: "Jazz & Afrobeat Shouldn't Stay Within Our Parents' Generation"". OkayAfrica. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. "KOKOROKO: The Jazz Group Honouring Afrobeat And The Sounds Of London". Clash Magazine. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  4. "Ones to watch: Kokoroko". The Guardian. 23 February 2019.
  5. Peterson, Gilles (12 February 2019). "Worldwide Awards 2019 Highlights". YouTube. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  6. "2020 Urban Music Awards winners announced". Urban Music Awards. 18 February 2020.
  7. "KOKOROKO". BBC Proms.
  8. Sotire, Timi (8 August 2022). "KOKOROKO: "If we don't play this music, then a piece of our culture is lost"". NME. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  9. Empire, Kitty (7 August 2022). "Kokoroko: Could We Be More review – a debut of easy-going beauty". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  10. Fordham, John (30 December 2022). "The 10 best jazz albums of 2022". The Guardian.
  11. "Jazz FM Awards". Jazzfmawards.com.
  12. "Kokoroko Hang 'Tuff' On Upcoming LP". SPIN. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  13. "Kokoroko | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  14. "Kokoroko | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  15. "Live At Metropolis". Record Store Day. Retrieved 20 April 2026.