Lagos Thugs

Lagos Thugs is a 12-piece Afrobeat orchestra straight out of Lagos, Nigeria — carrying the spirit of Fela Kuti’s legendary Africa 70 and Egypt 80 into a new generation. Join us for their UK debut!

Founded in 2020 by singer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist Adetunji Adeyemi, their music follows the deep architecture of classic Afrobeat — heavy bass, hypnotic repetition, powerful horn sections — while weaving in jazz, dub, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa. The band made their live debut in January 2021 at Lagos’ Bature Brewery during an evening organized by acclaimed Nigerian trumpeter Etuk Ubong, and the momentum hasn’t stopped since. Within months they locked down a headline residency, went viral through Sofar Sounds, and were chosen as the opening act for multiple Seun Kuti shows at The Shrine and Alliance Française.

Fela Kuti’s own trumpeter Muyiwa Kunnuji praised the band after seeing a live clip, declaring they play with the same energy as the originals. After winning the MOP (Movement of the People) Award, they connected with Amayo and Antibalas, who were so impressed they featured Lagos Thugs in their Netflix documentary. Projects with Ezra Collective, K.O.G., and Kaleta have further cemented their place at the forefront of a global Afrobeat revival.

Their debut album Chaos — four extended compositions clocking over 35 minutes — announced a band that’s both deeply reverent and completely fearless. Now signed to Mixto Records, Lagos Thugs are bringing homegrown Nigerian Afrobeat back to the world stage.