Wanlov the Kubolor is currently on tour across the United Kingdom and Europe alongside songbird Lamisi, and I had the chance to catch up with the Ghanaian music icon as he continues his mission of spreading authentic Ghanaian culture and sound to the world.
The pairing of Wanlov and Lamisi makes perfect sense to anyone who knows their music.
Wanlov has long been celebrated for his stirring, outspoken artistry, a musician who refuses to be boxed in by genre or geography, and Lamisi brings her own captivating vocal energy to the collaboration, creating a dynamic that feels natural and necessary.
The tour has been covering serious ground, with confirmed dates painting a picture of a truly expansive run.
They opened in London at The Jazz Café on the 22nd of May before heading to Stroud’s Prince Albert on the 25th and wrapping up the UK leg’s opening stretch in Aberystwyth at Fire in the Mountain on the 29th.
The European stretch carries them through Rotterdam’s Grounds on the 27th of June and Amsterdam’s Roots Festival the following day, before the pair lands at the legendary Roskilde Festival in Denmark on the 3rd of July and Clandestino in Gothenburg on the 4th.
July continues with appearances at the Seeker Festival in Dorset on the 10th, Tonnau in North Wales on the 11th, WOMAD in Wiltshire on the 24th, Summer Camp in Cornwall on the 25th, and Deershed in North Yorkshire on the 26th.
August brings MitAfrika in Cologne on the 21st, Shambala Festival in Leicestershire on the 28th, and Smugglers Festival in Kent on the 29th, before the tour winds down in September with dates at Dalston Curve Garden in London on the 1st, The Jam Jar in Bristol on the 4th, and End of the Road in Salisbury on the 5th.
It is a formidable schedule that speaks to the demand and the respect Wanlov commands on the international festival circuit.
What makes the story even more compelling is that despite the relentless pace of life on the road, Wanlov is nowhere near idle creatively.
He confirmed that he is still in the studio working on not one but two bodies of work that fans should be watching out for.
He is also back in the creative space with his longtime collaborator M3NSA, and while he kept the details of their project close to his chest, anyone familiar with what these two have produced together over the years knows the result will be nothing short of exceptional.
As for the solo front, Wanlov was direct: “I dey release two EPs,” he said, naming them as “Casual Friday” with DJ Fui, and “Sister Derby’s Brother” with Ssnowbeatz.
Both projects carry distinctive collaborative energy and suggest a Wanlov who is as restless and prolific as ever, even while navigating a full international tour calendar.
We could not dig deeper into the details, given that he is still moving, but we will be circling back to catch up properly with the creative director and music embodiment that is Wanlov the Kubolor.
The nomad superstar is always working, always on the move, and as he continues carrying Ghanaian culture to stages across the world, we are keeping our lenses unceasingly on him.
