Yankari Afrobeat Collective

About Yankari Afrobeat Collective

This Paddy’s Day, Dublin favourites Yankari Afrobeat Collective takes the stage with rhythms, melodies and parables from their Yoruba and Igbo roots with vocal hooks delivered in pidgin-English – harking back to the Afrobeat greats. Fuji, Highlife, Juju, Afrobeat, Jazz and Funk form the foundation that the band build upon to create a 21st century heavy groove.

Support from Selu & The Living Things plus DJs Lex Woo & Hewan Mulugeta keep the good vibes going on the decks all night long for the afterparty

Die-hard Fela fans, Dublin based band Yankari, aspire to advance the original Afrobeat genre by incorporating contemporary sounds, such as, jazz, funk, dance, rock-and-roll whilst keeping the traditional groove elements of Afrobeat. This new sound has world-wide appeal and the Yankari fan base stretches from Ireland to Japan, Brazil to Spain, Nigeria to the US.

Yankari founding members, brothers Segun and Michael Akano along with Uché Gabriel Akujobi, are originally from Nigeria and came together in Dublin while playing at various gigs around the city. Gradually through the love of music and rhythms from their Yoruba and Igbo cultures they created the groovy and energetic sound that is reminiscent of Afrobeat of the 60’s and 70’s but with a modern twist. That sound is called Yankari.

Support act Ṣelu and the Living Things celebrate life’s infinite dimensions with a soulfully rare blend of talent and style. Evolving from a collaboration between drummer Segun Akano (Yankari, Dublin Afrobeat Ensemble) and guitarist Morgan Baker (Louisiana 6, Pop Republic Collective), Living Things integrates afrobeat, neo-soul, jazz, and progressive flavours into a compelling modern sound.