London Afrobeat Collective and Lèa Mondo Open Up Outdoors

On May 26, one of the last chilly evenings of spring, the grooves emanating into crane-slotted construction sites had the audience at Costa del Tottenham’s open-air, low-roofed performance space dancing, albeit from the confines of their picnic table benches. 

The gig, put on by Woodburner, opened with versatile guitarist and singer-songwriter Lèa Mondo (pictured below), her warm, mellow voice enchanting the audience with beautiful melodies and memorable hooks spanning different styles.  Drummer Bubu Otis animated reggae riffs of ‘Mwana Mboka’, bassist Luke Wynter’s velvety lines gave a bossa nova shape to the tumult of ‘Heights of Love’, guitarist Emiliano de Salonica had shimmering solos throughout the set, and backing vocalist Vicky Tuka shone in a terrific solo on the Lijadu Sisters’ cover ‘Life’s Gone Down Low’, which Lèa introduced with a quick 1970s Afrobeat history lesson. Lèa chronicled heartbreak, self-love, and political unrest in Lingala and English before closing her set honouring her mother with the upbeat Congolese highlife tune ‘Ndjokela.’

It prepped the audience for 8-piece London Afrobeat Collective, who exuded joy with a set that celebrated the return of live music, notably with their new song ‘El Ritmo de Londres’, LAC played from their 2019 album ‘Humans’ and songs from their forthcoming 2022 album with a relentless, full-throated energy driven by Giuliano Osella (drums), Richie Sweet (percussion), and John Mathews (bass). Guitarists Alex Farrell and Alex Szyjanowicz supplied the multi-layered grooves while singer Juanita Euka traded bombastic lines with Andy Watts (trumpet) and Klibens Michelet (bari sax), the latter of whom impressively jumped to the beat with his horn around his neck.

As their songs later in the set ventured into a funkier realms, such as 'Space Fridge' and 'Stop Talking', Euka stayed formidable and magnetic, embodying the celebratory and commanding stage presence required of an Afrobeat frontwoman to elevate consciousness, raise spirits, and move bodies.