Afrikan Boy | Britten Pears Arts

During his Snape Residency, Olushola will be developing new creative ways to write music, exploring soundscapes and how to relate them to storytelling, and working on new performance techniques.

Snape Residencies provide time and space for creators at all stages of their careers; a supportive environment to create, be curious, and try out new ideas. Open Sessions offer a unique chance to go behind-the-scenes and experience work-in-progress created during the Residency.

We are so grateful to our supporters, without whom none of our work would be possible. Visit Support Us to find out how you can help.

Supporters contributing towards Residencies include:
Genesis Kickstart Fund and PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund.

About Olushola

Olushola Ajose been performing under the moniker AFRIKAN BOY (AB) since 2005, coming to attention as a teenager, with his unforgettable smash ‘One Day I Went to Lidl’ (2007) which has had over 5 million views.

The grime-infused track, a humorous ode to the discount supermarket, caught the ear of fellow British rapper, visual artist, and activist M.I.A, leading to guest appearances on her critically- acclaimed and Grammy- nominated album ‘Kala’ (2007). ‘I'm excited’, a later collaboration with hip hop veteran DJ Shadow, was crowned “Hottest Record In The World!” by industry heavyweight Zane Lowe.

AB's debut album ‘The ABCD’ (2014) reached A-list- list radio support on BBC Radio networks, starting notably with BBC 6 music supporting my single ‘Hit Em Up’.

Follow-up album 'Peppeh Sounds Vol 1’ (2018) has an authentic afrobeat fusion sound. Olushola wanted to make a feel-good record that would hit a sweet spot with the ladies.

Over the last decade, Olushola has cultivated a worldwide fan base from his early days as a Grime MC. Now an established international artist, he is accompanied on stage by a full band which effortlessly combines a spectrum of sounds and influences. From Grime to Afro-beat, Jazz to Spoken Word, not many artists can channel the energies of Fela Kuti, Bob Dylan, and Skepta in a single performance. An Afrikan Boy performance will challenge any other when it comes to the energy and passion displayed on stage, which he has shared with the likes of Paul McCarthy, Kano, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) Baaba Maal, Damon Albarn, Seun & Femi Kuti, The Noisettes, Fatoumata Diawara, Mark Ronson to name but a few.

Header photo credit Derrick Kakembo.