Diaspora Calling! Brings Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Erykah Badu to Milton Keynes

More than 35,000 people gathered at Milton Keynes National Bowl for the UK debut of Diaspora Calling!, a major celebration of Black music, art and culture conceived by Ms. Lauryn Hill and hosted by Dave Chappelle.

The cross-generational line-up featured Hill, Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu, YG Marley, Zion Marley, Giggs, Fireboy DML, Seun Kuti and The Compozers, alongside DJ sets from DJ OBI and Michael Brun.

At the heart of the event was the 30th anniversary of The Fugees’ landmark album, The Score. Hill and Wyclef reunited to perform classics including “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La”, before moving through their solo catalogues. Wyclef delivered “911”, while Hill performed “Ex-Factor”, “To Zion” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)”.

One of the night’s biggest moments came when Erykah Badu joined Hill for “Doo Wop”, bringing two of modern soul’s most influential artists together onstage. YG Marley and Zion Marley also appeared alongside Hill and Wyclef, while The Compozers helped give the closing performance the scale demanded by the National Bowl.

Badu’s own set included “Apple Tree”, “Window Seat”, “On & On” and “Back in the Day”. Giggs represented the UK rap scene before surprising the crowd by welcoming Kano for performances of “P’s & Q’s” and “Rudeboy”.

Photo CREDIT: @i2i.imagery

Fireboy DML brought contemporary Afrobeats to the festival, while YG Marley performed his global hit “Praise Jah in the Moonlight”. Zion Marley paid tribute to his grandfather Bob Marley with “Three Little Birds” before performing his own track, “Best of Me”. Seun Kuti carried the sound and political tradition of Afrobeat into the programme.

Dave Chappelle remained a commanding presence throughout the event, introducing artists and connecting a line-up that travelled between hip-hop, soul, reggae, Afrobeat, Afrobeats and UK rap.

Diaspora Calling! also extended beyond music. Fashion activations from Denim Tears and Kids of Immigrants explored identity, history and migration, while artist Slawn created a live painting inspired by beauty brand Topicals. A curated marketplace showcased diaspora-led artists, designers, entrepreneurs and independent businesses.

Los Angeles artist Lauren Halsey presented animated visuals connected to her Diaspora Calling! commission, which had been unveiled across London’s Piccadilly Lights earlier in the week. Hill and Wyclef had also met fans at 180 Studios to sign albums and memorabilia celebrating three decades of The Score.

With Hill at its creative centre, Diaspora Calling! felt bigger than a traditional live music event. It connected Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and the US through music and shared cultural history, bringing global icons and contemporary artists together under one banner.

The anniversary of The Score provided the night’s emotional centre, but the wider achievement was creating a new major platform for diaspora culture, creativity and collaboration in front of more than 35,000 people.

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