Etuk Ubong

Etuk Ubong – lead vocals, trumpet, organ
Esther Etuk – backing vocals
Damilola Williams – backing vocals
Isaac Oyebamiji – drums
Marley Cook – bass
Mathieu Cochard – keyboards
Raffaello Visconti – guitar
Theo – percussion
Félix Cantau – trumpet
Maxime Chevalier – trombone
Lucas Belon – tenor saxophone
Louis Rose – baritone saxophone

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Etuk Ubong is one of Nigeria’s most exciting musical voices today—hailed by Seun Kuti as “one of the best things to come out of Lagos.” As a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, Ubong has developed a distinctive sound he calls Earth Music.

His music is a powerful, uncompromising blend of afrobeat, highlife, and jazz, interwoven with the ritual drumming tradition of Ekombi. The result is urgent and highly energetic, yet deeply spiritual. Ubong’s compositions reflect his heritage and a life philosophy rooted in community, peace, and love for humanity.

It’s easy to draw parallels to the forward-thinking UK jazz scene and bands like Sons of Kemet, but Etuk Ubong’s expression is unmistakably Nigerian—grounded in tradition while pushing boldly forward.

Born in Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria and raised in Lagos, Ubong picked up the trumpet at age 14 and never looked back. He studied at the Peter King College of Music, the MUSON School of Music, and the University of Cape Town. At just 16, he was recruited into the band of legendary highlife pioneer Victor Olaiya—an environment that previously nurtured Fela Kuti and Tony Allen. This led to touring with reggae star Buchi, a formative period with Femi Kuti’s Positive Force, and collaborations with the acclaimed South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini.

Today, Etuk Ubong is a central figure in Lagos’ music scene. He has founded his own venue, The Truth—the city’s most prolific live space since Fela Kuti’s Shrine—where he performs several nights a week. At the same time, his international following has grown rapidly, particularly in the UK, through high-profile performances and collaborations that underscore his role at the forefront of a new global afro-jazz movement.

Etuk Ubong has already performed at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals across Europe and North America. Live, Earth Music is a visceral experience—music that moves the body, challenges the mind, and speaks directly to the heart.