Project a Black Planet: Music

Fri 5 Jun —Sat 25 Jul 2026

Photo Kendall Bessent

This music programme celebrates Pan-African ideas through music and culture from the 20th century up to the present day. These concerts sit alongside the exhibition in our Art Gallery.

This summer more than 30 events across art, film, music, talks and more bring together artists, thinkers, and communities from across the African continent and its diasporas to celebrate the rich influence of Pan-Africanism on contemporary arts and culture.

Music highlights include a specially commissioned immersive spatial audio presentation of a collaborative project between the late pioneering reggae and dub producer Lee “Scratch” Perry and electronic duo Mouse on Mars. Africa Oyé festival present three of the continent's most exciting artists: Patoranking, Ghorwane & Kizaba; plus performances from musicians Meshell Ndegeocello, Pat Thomas and Tyshawn Sorey, the Cesária Évora Orchestra with Mayra Andrade and a new three-part sonic performance by Sammy Baloji.

Events

Le Pere Sauvage Sammy Baloji (c) Bozar Pictures, Gaëtan Nadin

Event

Classical music Contemporary music

Sammy Baloji: Le Père Sauvage – A Poetic Memento of K(C)ongo

Past event

Sun 5 Jul 2026, 20:00

Congolese artist Sammy Baloji brings together three artists for an evening of sound and visuals, with new music inspired by 1970s Pan-Africanism and Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness.

Event

Contemporary music

Ben LaMar Gay’s We Chree

Past event

Sat 27 Jun 2026, 19:30

The jazz composer, eclectic artist and channeler of cosmopolitan blues performs as part of a trio.

Event

Contemporary music

Patoranking, Ghorwane & Kizaba (Africa Oyé x Barbican)

Past event

Sun 21 Jun 2026, 19:00

The UK’s largest festival of African music and culture presents three of the continent's most exciting artists: Patoranking, Ghorwane and Kizaba.

a photo of Meshell Ndegeocello against a plain grey background

Event

Contemporary music

Meshell Ndegeocello + ESKA

Past event

Sat 20 Jun 2026, 20:00

The visionary bassist performs No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin in a powerful live set with her band. A genre-defying sonic exploration blending jazz, soul, funk and spoken word.

Event

Classical music Contemporary music

Tyshawn Sorey & Pat Thomas

Past event

Sat 20 Jun 2026, 18:00

Pulitzer Prize–winning composer and drummer Tyshawn Sorey joins pioneering pianist Pat Thomas for a live set of improvised jazz.

Cesaria Evora is joined with her band, singing in front of a red house

Event

Contemporary music

Cesária Évora Orchestra

Past event

Sat 13 Jun 2026, 19:30

The crème de la crème of today's Cape Verdean artists come together to pay homage to the sound of La Diva aux pieds nus (The Barefoot Diva).

Event

Contemporary music Talks & events

Talk: The legacy of Lee "Scratch" Perry

Past event

Fri 12 Jun 2026, 20:00

Louis Chude-Sokei in conversation with David Katz and Ayesha Hameed on the legacy and futures of Lee "Scratch" Perry.

A saxophone and percussion players performing for an intimate audience

Event

Contemporary music Take part

Panafrica in Rhythm

Past event

Fri 12 Jun 2026, 19:00

Celebrate Pan-Africanism through rhythm and sound with artists responding to the Project a Black Planet exhibition, co-hosted by Moses Boyd and Jamz Supernova.

Event

Contemporary music

Spatial, No Problem Version Part Two

Past event

Sat 6 Jun 2026, 21:00

Mouse on Mars, together with collaborators Dodo NKishi, Louis Chude-Sokei and Regis Molina, present a real time remix of their collaboration with the late, great dub legend Lee "Scratch" Perry.