Afro Gospel takes centre stage

UNLESS YOU have been living under a rock, you too have been listening, singing and dancing to Afrobeats, with artists like Burna boy, WizKid and Tems continuing to deliver hit after hit on a global scale.

However, the sounds of Africa’s rich culture within music, is not exclusive to the secular charts but also has a big impact on the Christian com munity, through what is known as Afro Gospel.

Afro Gospel, as a sub-genre, embodies the dance able beats and largely percussive rhythms pre sent in Afrobeats and matches it to Christian lyricism. The UK in particular, is home to a number of Afro Gospel artists including Limoblaze, the Nige-

Solos festival to showcase some of the UK’s most popular artists

rian-born artist whose collaboration with the grammy-award winner Lecrae, on Limoblaze’s single, Jireh, resulted in millions of streams on all music

One of the leading figures continuing to push Afro Gospel music within the UK is Emmanuel Farinu, inset , the founder and producer of ‘Solos London’, which hosts the UK’s largest Afro Gospel concerts.

Last year’s Solos London event, held at Clapham Graham, saw some of the UK’s best

Afro-Gospel’s artists including CalledOut Music, Asha Elia, Happi and Limoblaze perform to a sold out venue.

Though Afro Gospel is well loved, Farinu is clear that its audience continues to evolve as “people are passionate about this new sound, and that many more are curious”.

Farinu is set on making this year’s Afro Gospel event, taking place on July 15 in Woolwich (3 North Rd, London, SE18 1BS), bigger and better.

He enthusiastically shares with me that 2023’s festival will have three different stages, with one held out outdoors.

Each stage will showcase different aspects of the continent’s contribution to Gospel music, including a stage titled ‘Afro Worship’ focusing on the different African cultural expressions of worship and a ‘Discovery’ stage, an opportunity to listen to newer talent who are guaranteed to be the next breakthrough artists.

While this is more than enough for ticket holders, as well as celebrating Africa’s different cultures through music, there will also be a number of food vendors present, providing the best of West African cuisine, giving the full Afrocentric experience for each festival-goer.

To find out more details on this year’s Solos London event, including how to purchase tickets for updates on artist announcements, follow their Twitter/ Facebook/Instagram accounts @SolosLondon for more details or head directly to their website https://www.soloslondon.co.uk/