Africa Express INTL
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We are incredibly excited that in record time, we’ve managed to book a musical ensemble we’ve been pursuing for a while. Africa Express is coming to Pohoda 2025 with a 50-member band led by the legendary Damon Albarn. The line-up will also include British art-pop band Django Django and Joan as a Police Woman, among others.
The current European tour, which now includes Pohoda as of today, coincides with the release of their new studio album, Africa Express presents... Bahidorá, recorded at the eponymous Mexican festival. The album will be released symbolically the day after their concert at Pohoda—on Friday 11 July 2025.
“One dream has disappeared but another has become true because of it. I’ve wanted Damon Albarn and Africa Express at Pohoda ever since the project began. It is an extraordinary endeavour with impact far beyond music alone—something that, in a way, embodies the very idea of Pohoda. Africa Express, in my view, brings a distinctive and equally remarkable presence to the slot initially intended for Massive Attack—it’s a powerful artistic statement and message. I am grateful to Damon, to all the artists involved in this exceptional project, and to agent James Walsh and everyone around Africa Express for their accommodating approach as support of Pohoda. Thanks to them, we managed to make it happen in less than 24 hours. I believe we’re in for an unforgettable experience,” said Michal Kaščák on the confirmation of Africa Express.
At the concerts, Africa Express co-founder Damon Albarn will be joined on stage by 50 artists from four continents, from Moonchild Sanelly and Django Django to Luisa Almaguer and Jupiter & Okwess. Every single Africa Express show is a one-of-a-kind experience, full of spontaneous and unexpected moments and collaborations. Interestingly, this concert will bring several acts back to Pohoda who have previously delivered fantastic shows here—such as Django Django, Mexican Institute of Sound, and Jupiter & Okwess—as well as artists the festival has long been interested in hosting, such as Joan as a Police Woman and Baba Sissoko.
Versatile musician Damon Albarn is one of the most influential artists of the United Kingdom. He is behind more than 40 albums: from projects with his bands to solo albums, various collaborations, operas, and film soundtracks. The singer and songwriter of Blur, Gorillaz, and other projects is the recipient of six BRIT Awards and two Grammy Awards. During the long musical sets of Africa Express, songs from his home bands, Blur and Gorillaz, are often performed as well.
The globally renowned project Africa Express was founded in Mali in 2006. That year, it brought together local stars such as Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté, and Amadou & Mariam with guest artists including Martha Wainwright, Fatboy Slim, Damon Albarn.
Africa Express often invites well-known artists to countries such as Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, or Mali. However, they are best known for their live performances, which often last over 7 hours.
In 2024, Africa Express travelled to the Americas for the first time, becoming the headliner of the Bahidorá festival in Mexico. An extraordinary group of musicians from around the world came together on this journey. They rehearsed, performed, and created new music together, culminating in an epic 5-hour concert on the banks of Bahidorá’s ancient springs. After the performance, they stayed to record collaboratively in local studios, tents, and hotel rooms. The result is a collection of 21 tracks: it is the project’s sixth album and its first since 2019.
Album Africa Express presents... Bahidorá, featuring artists from four continents and deeply rooted in Mexico, blends rich musical traditions from cumbia, hip-hop, and kuduro to soul, salsa, and pop.
Africa Express is a project built on mutual respect. It promotes a simple idea: that as people, we are stronger when we collaborate, when we communicate openly, and when we acknowledge that everyone has something to say. It is about breaking down barriers between artists from different countries, genders, generations, and musical genres.
The full list of artists and bands performing at Pohoda as part of Africa Express:
Damon Albarn – Django Django – Abou Diarra – Alansito Vega – Baba Sissoko – Bootie Brown – Eme MalaFe – Hak Baker – Imarhan – Joan As Police Woman – Jupiter & Okwess – K.O.G. – La Bruja de Texcoco – Los Pream – Luisa Almaguer – M.anifest – Mare Advertencia – Mélissa Hié – Mexican Institute of Sound – Moonchild Sanelly – Onipa – Ophélia Hié – Otim Alpha – Poté – Seye Adelekan – Tom Excell