Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage joined some of the biggest names in global Black culture as Lauryn Hill’s Diaspora Calling! festival made its UK debut at the Milton Keynes National Bowl.
Held on August 7, the festival brought together more than 35,000 people for a celebration of music, art, culture and the shared experiences of the global African diaspora. Among the notable guests in attendance was Tiwa Savage, who joined an impressive gathering of international stars including Gunna, Common, Rapsody, Little Simz, Stonebwoy, Victony and Sabrina Elba.
For Tiwa, whose career has helped take Nigerian music to some of the world’s biggest stages, being present at an event built around connecting Africa and its diaspora was another notable moment in her increasingly global career.
A Celebration Of The African Diaspora
Diaspora Calling! was created by Lauryn Hill as a platform celebrating the creativity, culture and shared history of people of African descent around the world.
The UK edition marked 10 years since the initiative first began in Brooklyn in 2016 and brought together artists from Africa, the Caribbean, the United States and the United Kingdom. Hill has previously explained that her experiences in Ghana helped influence the development of the project and its wider mission of connecting communities across the diaspora.
The lineup reflected that mission.
Fireboy DML and Seun Kuti & The Compozers represented Nigeria on stage, while Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, YG Marley, Zion Marley and Giggs were among the other major performers. Comedian Dave Chappelle hosted the event.
Lauryn Hill And Wyclef Jean Reunite
One of the biggest moments of the night was the reunion of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, who came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ legendary album, The Score.
Their appearance brought together music lovers from different generations, while performances from the Marley family added another layer to the celebration of African and Caribbean musical heritage.
Erykah Badu also joined Hill on stage, creating one of the night’s memorable collaborations.
Tiwa Savage Among The Stars
Although Tiwa was not part of the announced performance lineup, her presence among the high-profile guests added another Nigerian connection to an event specifically designed to celebrate the global influence of African culture.
Over the years, Tiwa has become one of the most recognisable Nigerian female artists internationally, performing around the world and collaborating with artists across different musical markets.
Her appearance alongside some of the most influential figures in Black music and entertainment therefore offered another glimpse of how far Nigerian music has travelled.
And Nigeria’s representation at Diaspora Calling! went beyond celebrity appearances.
With Fireboy DML performing and Seun Kuti bringing the Afrobeat tradition to the stage, Nigerian music was represented across generations, from the legacy of Fela Kuti’s sound to the contemporary global rise of Afrobeats.
More Than A Music Festival
Diaspora Calling! was designed to be more than a concert.
The festival brought together music, art, fashion, culture and community, creating a space where different parts of the African diaspora could meet and celebrate their connections.
That makes Tiwa Savage’s presence particularly fitting.
From Lagos to London and beyond, Nigerian artists continue to occupy more space within global conversations about African culture. And at a festival created specifically to celebrate those connections, seeing a Nigerian woman who has spent years taking Afrobeats to the world among the gathering’s notable guests is certainly something worth celebrating.
Africa continues to call. And Nigerians are answering.
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