After the success of the title Abusey Junction in 2018, we were impatiently awaiting the first album of the British group Kokoroko whose afrobeat accents have already won over many fans across the planet. Sheila Maurice-Grey and Cassie Kinoshi, the two pillars of this constantly evolving formation, are telling us this week about their epic and enthusiastically presenting Could We Be Morea first disc that the spectators of the Jazz à La Villette festival were able to cheer on August 31st.
At a time when international tensions seem to weaken the values of solidarity, listening and sharing, the Kokoroko group wants to be positive and believe in a bright future. Steeped in multicultural influences, the members of this orchestra with variable geometry highlight the diversity of their origins to call for tolerance, knowledge and respect. Each of Kokoroko’s instrumentalists has a different story and yet the combination of their ancestral roots creates unity. Whether they have ancestors in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Barbados or England, they campaign for a universality rich in these specificities.
Admittedly, as trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey acknowledges, there is still a lot to be done for the younger generation to take an interest in its history, particularly in London where the different communities do not really seek to meet and enjoy. Music can be the common denominator that will inspire the desire to vibrate together and ultimately realize that traditions are not an obstacle to cordial understanding, camaraderie and mutual understanding. Thus, Kokoroko’s repertoire, borrowed from musical nostalgia, can encourage listeners to commune and communicate. The pan-African echoes of Fela Kuti, the funk of George Clinton, the swing of Ella Fitzgerald, the Highlife of Ebo Taylor, palpable ingredients of the sound of the group, unite and defy withdrawal. It is the strength of Kokoroko who does not impose his vision of the world in the 21st century, but leaves it up to everyone to interpret the message delivered in this open and altruistic album. Could We Be More is an invitation to give meaning to our daily actions.
The pandemic could have been an opportunity to look back on our actions and correct the situation. Sheila Maurice-Grey and Cassie Kinoshi, our guests, unfortunately do not believe that this sad planetary event will have changed our behavior. There remains then the hope that the expressive power of the music will arouse our examination of conscience. Soul Searching, one of the key titles of Kokoroko’s first album, clearly manifests this desire to rediscover the aspirations of yesteryear, to embrace the lessons of the past to face the present and envisage a more exciting future. Will the good vibes of these endearing instrumentalists have the power to ward off fate? It is up to us to accept the omen!