Akala

Award-winning hip hop artist, writer, poet and historian Akala is a label owner and social entrepreneur who fuses the sounds of rap, rock and electro-punk with fierce lyrical storytelling. Inspired by the likes of Saul Williams and Gil Scot-Heron, Akala has developed a stellar live show with renowned drummer and award-winning music producer Cassell The Beatmaker of Plan B, The Streets, Keziah Jones. Akala has headlined eight UK tours in addition to touring with the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, Damian Marley, M.I.A, Christina Aguilera, Siouxsie Sue, Damon Albarn and Richard Ashcroft. He has appeared at numerous UK, European and US festivals including Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wireless, V, Hove and SXSW. He has also taken part in British Council arts education music projects across Southeast Asia, Africa, The Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

Akala is more recently known for his compelling lectures and journalism for The Guardian, Huffington Post UK and The Independent, as well as TV presenting and script-writing. Akala has also featured on numerous TV programs and documentaries across Channel 4, ITV2, MTV, Sky Arts and the BBC promoting his music, poetry as well as speaking on wide ranging subjects from music, arts, youth engagement and British and African-Caribbean culture. In 2009, Akala founded the The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company, a music theatre production company which has sparked worldwide media interest since its inception.