Africa Express: The Circus

Africa Express: The Circus brought a collective of African and Western artists together for a celebration of unity, in the borough where founding member Damon Albarn grew up.

The Circus Comes to Town

Africa Express was founded in 2006 to promote the concept of musical collaboration that breaks down boundaries and borders, whether between geographical regions, genres or generations.

The brainchild of Leytonstone's Damon Albarn, Africa Express came to town in 2019, as Waltham Forest became the Mayor's first London Borough of Culture.

Collaboration

Up to 100 artists from across Africa, Europe and Britain – including, of course, Waltham Forest – joined forces to collaborate on new music and reworking of old songs. Ahead of the big show on Wanstead Flats, artists rehearsed for three days in St John’s Church in Leytonstone.

Unity

Since it was founded in 2006 – to promote unity and collaboration through music, across borders, genres and generations – Africa Express has visited, recorded or performed in five African countries, toured the UK on a customised vintage train, created a Malian reimagining of a modern masterpiece, headlined festivals across Europe, and reunited a Syrian Orchestra to work with African and Western artists.

Breaking barriers

During a spectacular and joyful five-hour headline show, Africa Express: The Circus showed the world how diverse the borough is, and demonstrated loud and clear how collaboration can break down boundaries.

Artists on the line-up included Batida, local hero Damon Albarn, Django Django, Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice), Gruff Rhys, Imarhan, Joan As Police Woman, Morena Leraba, Muzi, Onipa, Rokia Traoré, Sibot, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and many more.

"The best celebration of who we are is listening to Africa Express, here tonight, in Waltham Forest," said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Opportunity

There was also an opportunity for local artists to get involved alongside the international acts. A Battle of the Bands, hosted by St John’s Church, gave local artists the chance to earn a place at the big event.

Winner Luke November wowed the crowds on Wanstead Flats and showed the depth of local talent there is in Waltham Forest.