Joshua Idehen Brings Poetry, Dance Beats and Hope to Pohoda
What happens when urgent poetry meets dance beats, gospel choirs and the energy of a club night? The answer is Joshua Idehen. The British-born Nigerian poet, spoken word artist and musician turns personal stories and observations about the world around us into music that can make you laugh, move you and get you dancing. At Pohoda 2027, he’ll bring music that keeps looking for reasons to hope, despite all the bad news.
30. October 2026
Idehen first made a real name for himself with Mum Does the Washing, a wry and whip-smart poem examining how the world works, which started life as a Twitter thread. When he set it to electronic production by Swedish musician Ludvig Parment, also known as Saturday, Monday, the result was a track that opened the door to a whole new audience. Sold-out shows followed, along with packed-out crowds at Glastonbury and an appearance on the prestigious music show “Later… with Jools Holland”. At the end of 2025, he also played a support slot on the European tour of Baxter Dury, whom you saw at Pohoda this year.
“In a nutshell, the song has changed my life,” says Idehen of the track that marked a new era in his career after around two decades of writing poetry.
When Poetry Meets the Dance Floor
As a young man, Idehen was more interested in film, and poetry didn’t appeal to him at all at first. Eventually, though, he found his own path through London’s spoken word scene. He gradually began setting his poems to music and worked with bands including LV, Benin City and Calabashed. His voice also features in the work of British jazz acts Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, moving between jazz, electronic and experimental music.
Ludvig Parment became his key creative partner. Their collaboration fully took shape on the 2023 mixtape “Learn to Swim” and continues on the album “I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try”, released in March 2026.
The album’s title sums up its message. Joshua Idehen doesn’t pretend not to see what’s happening in the world. Instead of another dose of hopelessness, he offers music that holds both grief and joy, and reminds us that we don’t have to get through hard times alone. His lyrics are about friendship, family and human connection, as well as small encounters that can help someone in a difficult moment.
Parment’s spacious electronic beats, house rhythms and gospel choirs give Idehen’s words their dance-floor energy. The album also features vocalist Amanda Bergman, saxophonist Pete Fraser and Shabaka Hutchings, known from Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming. The result is music with real depth that still invites you onto the dance floor.
Even in Hard Times, There’s a Reason to Dance
Joshua Idehen doesn’t want his concerts to be just about listening to the words. The energy of the crowd, movement and the sense of togetherness that comes from people sharing music matter to him just as much. His shows blend spoken word with a club atmosphere and can be funny, moving and properly euphoric all at once.
At Pohoda 2027, he’ll bring a unique mix of poetry, electronic music and humanity. It’s music that doesn’t make light of today’s problems, but reminds us that there are still reasons for joy, closeness and hope.