Benin City

The London trio Benin City fuses spoken-word poetry with electronica and brass, yielding results that are simultaneously infectious and emotionally resonant. Poet Joshua Idehen and drummer Theo Buckingham first crossed paths in 2008 at a squat party, where Idehen, without any introduction, began layering his verse directly over Buckingham’s rhythms—an impromptu encounter that crystallized the project’s foundation. Benin City takes its name from the Nigerian hometown of Idehen’s parents. Early iterations expanded to a seven-piece ensemble that honed its live presence at London gatherings, most consistently at the Dalston venue Passing Clouds. When plans for a recorded release solidified, the lineup contracted to a core three-piece featuring the two founders plus Tom Leaper on saxophone and strings. Their first album, Fires in the Park, appeared on Audio Doughnuts in 2013. Buckingham subsequently departed, leaving the group to rely on a rotation of session drummers until singer Shanaz Dorsett joined in 2016, restoring the trio format. That same year the council shuttered Passing Clouds, prompting the band to compose their follow-up album, Last Night, as a tribute to the city’s shrinking nightlife and cultural venues. Moshi Moshi Records issued the record in April 2018.