Etuk Ubong & the Etuk Philosophy Band

Reflecting the urgency of his messages, Etuk Ubong’s fast-paced channelling of Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz – encompassing echoes of Ellingtonian intricacy, blue period Miles, Coltrane transcendence, the roots rebirth of Masekela and the visceral Afrocentrism of Archie Shepp – all inspired by the ancestral presence of Ekombi ritual drumming, creates a unique confluence of musical and spiritual questing. It’s a quest that has seen him pursuing jazz and classical music studies in trumpet and piano, as well as experiences playing with such luminaries as Victor Olaiya, Femi Kuti, the Gangbé Brass Band, Pat Harbison and Nduduzo Makhathini. Today, the soft-spoken ambassador is taking his message of love, peace and African self-reliance to the world. Already a high-profile figure on the London scene, he has also been leaving breathless audiences in his wake around Europe.