On June 23, the Bouregreg stage will be set ablaze by one of the most captivating figures in modern afrobeat. Etuk Ubong, a boundary-pushing trumpeter and deeply inspired composer, is set to deliver a performance at Mawazine that blends spiritual depth with political urgency, creating a powerful musical trance that’s impossible to ignore.
Born in Nigeria in 1992, Ubong channels the raw energy of Lagos and the rich cultural heritage of Akwa Ibom State, all while walking in the footsteps of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. His sound is far from a nostalgic throwback—it’s a living, breathing force. Drawing on highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional Ekombi rhythms, his music pulses with history, resistance, and soul. By the age of 14, he had already picked up the trumpet, not just as an instrument but as a tool for carrying on the struggles voiced by his predecessors. Today, he stands out as one of the most promising torchbearers of the genre.
But Etuk Ubong doesn’t just perform—he envisions. With his philosophy of “Earth Music,” he aims to reforge the bond between sound and soil, between rhythm and revolution. He wants music to be more than entertainment—to be a conduit between people, land, and spirit. That ethos took root in Lagos when he opened The Truth, a grassroots music club that quickly became a haven for the city’s restless creative undercurrent.
His 2020 album Africa Today was a bold, raw call to action. Recorded live and pressed on vinyl, it lashed out at corruption while simultaneously honoring the rebirth of a continent in motion. In 2024, Ubong returned with Ikwö Ufan Ikwö Ima, a dynamic new release in collaboration with rapper DOTTi the Deity. The track fuses spoken word with a scorching groove, once again proving that his music exists where rhythm meets rebellion.
Ubong’s live presence is transformative. Barefoot, eyes closed, trumpet lifted like a prayer, he becomes more than a musician—he becomes a medium. There’s something sacred in his performance, something that calls to the collective soul. His concerts don’t just entertain; they uplift, provoke, and connect. The result is a shared emotional crescendo—a moment where sound becomes spirit.
With Etuk Ubong, Mawazine continues its mission of spotlighting the rising generation of African artists—those who honor tradition while fearlessly rewriting its future. His performance won’t just be heard. It’ll be felt.
