Africa Express

Africa Express originated in response to the scant presence of African performers on the 2005 Live 8 benefit shows, yet within ten years the project had grown into an expansive charitable organization and fluid musical ensemble. Although its roster changes constantly, the enterprise remains centered on Damon Albarn, the former Blur frontman who turned his attention beyond Britain once that band achieved international success, while consistently emphasizing joint performances that link musicians from Africa and the West.

Albarn and his collaborator Ian Birrell were moved to act after Live 8, a debt-relief fundraiser for Africa that nevertheless booked only one African act across its worldwide stages. The collective made its debut at Mali’s Festival au Desert in 2006, where Albarn appeared alongside Fatboy Slim and Martha Wainwright. In 2007 the group delivered a five-hour performance at Glastonbury that again included Albarn and Fatboy Slim, joined on this occasion by K’naan, Baaba Maal, the Magic Numbers, and Billy Bragg.

Throughout 2008 a succession of concerts took place under Albarn’s direction, each with its own configuration of players. The following year saw both the release of a documentary titled Africa Express—The Story So Far and the album Africa Express Presents…. In 2012 the collective participated in the Cultural Olympiad tied to the London Olympic Games. Its next studio recording, Maison des Jeunes, arrived in 2013 and was made with Brian Eno. The sole African-group interpretation of Terry Riley’s In C appeared in 2014. At the 2015 Roskilde Festival in Denmark the ensemble again performed for five hours, closing the set with Albarn being carried from the stage. A 2016 tour alongside the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians was later preserved on a live album bearing the same name. Egoli, issued in 2019 and featuring Gruff Rhys and Nick Zinner, was previewed by the EP Molo, whose tracks later resurfaced on the full-length release.