BAFTA and MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, writer/poet and historian ‘Akala’ is a label owner and social entrepreneur who fuses unique rap/rock/electro-punk sound with fierce lyrical storytelling. Inspired by the likes of Saul Williams and Gil Scot-Heron, over the years Akala has developed a stellar live show with his renowned drummer/award-winning music producer Cassell ‘TheBeatmaker’ (Plan B, The Streets and Keziah Jones) headlining 6 UK tours as well as touring with the likes of Jay-Z, Nas & Damian Marley, M.I.A. and Christina Aguilera to Siouxsie Sue, Damon Albarn’s (‘Blur’/Gorillaz’) ‘Africa Express’ and Richard Ashcroft, appearing at numerous UK / European and US festivals (Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wireless, V, Hove and SXSW) as well as collaborations with British Council arts/music projects across several countries in South-east Asia, Africa, The Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.
Akala is more recently known for his compelling lectures/seminars, journalism (Guardian, Huffington Post UK and the Independent), TV presenting and script-writing talents and has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and literate talents in the UK. Akala has also featured on numerous TV programmes across Channel 4, ITV2, MTV, Sky Arts and the BBC promoting his music, poetry as well as speaking on wide ranging subjects from music, youth engagement, British / African-Caribbean culture and the arts as a whole. In 2009, Akala launched the ‘The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company’, a music theatre production company which has sparked worldwide media interest since its inception.
Previous clients/collaborators include: BBC, Mastercard, London 2012, First Direct Bank, The Barbican, The Roundhouse, The Southbank Centre, British actor; Sir Ian McKellen, singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, actor/musician; Colin Salmon, Ms. Dynamite and The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Voice Director; Cicely Berry. In 2019, Akala’s The Dark Lady will be published by Hodder Children’s Books, part of Hachette. It is set in a “magical realist Shakespearean time which brings to life the vibrant, visceral, violent and adventurous world of the Renaissance”.
Akala has graced the TV screen numerous times throughout 2018 with a notable highlight being Akala’s Odyssey which aired on BBC Four on Sunday 18th February and followed his voyage across the Mediterranean and beyond as he delved into some of the mysteries behind Homer’s monumental poem, the Odyssey. Akala Presents: The Ruins of Empires was another highlight where Akala performed an abridged version of his epic poem of the same name and a personal interpretation of history as told through the ‘knowledge seeker’. He’s also made an impactful appearance on BBC Question Time. Not confined to television, Akala gave memorable interviews on BBC 5 Live and the Unfiltered Podcast with James O’Brien.
In 2020 Big Picture Press, an imprint of Templar Publishing will publish Akala’s first non-fiction children’s title, the first of a 3 book series. It is an illustrated history of human brilliance and achievement, particularly bringing to light a truly global context to untold or neglected stories onto a level playing field with traditional curriculum topics. In 2018, Akala received Honorary Doctorates from Oxford Brooke’s University and the University of Exeter. He speaks brilliantly on a variety of topics, from the relations between music and modern media to literature, education and social issues, using his vast historic knowledge and personal experiences.
How to hire Akala
Contact the Champions Speakers agency to provisionally enquire about Akala for your event today. Simply call a booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Akala's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Africa In History - an overview of African civilisations and societies from 10,000BC to 1700AD, looking at the development of writing, astronomical calendars, metallurgy, warfare, empires, kinship, religions and much more.
- The Haitian Revolution - tells the story of the only successful slave revolution in human history. Between 1791 and 1804 the former slaves of Haiti defeated France, Britain and Spain in war and declared the country independent and slavery forever abolished.
- A History of Black Britain - from the Romans to the Tudors, from the 18th century black abolitionists to the 19th-century working-class black radicals, from Notting Hill Carnival to Broadwater Farm this is a social history of the presence of black people in the British isles.
- Black People of the Americas - explores the history of black people of America from slave rebellions to music, art and culture and to the fascinating but lesser-known achievements of black scientists and inventors in the 19th century and much much more
- Black People In Science: Ancient and Modern - explores the contributions of Black People to Science and Technology throughout history, from the mathematical systems of pre-colonial Africa to the achievements and inventions of black Americans in the 19th century.
- Race, Class and Imperialism - a historical look at the development of racism and race science in the context of class development and European Imperialism.
- THSC Talk – Hip hop and Shakespeare: An Overview and Explanation - an introduction to the work and concepts of The Hip Hop Shakespeare company looking at language, rhythm and themes and exploring the social and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and that of modern-day rappers.
- History of Hip Hop – The Evolution of an Emcee – Overview of the oral traditions, musical, cultural and political movements that have contributed to the evolution of Emceeing so far - Tracing the development of oral poetry and storytelling from the Griots of West Africa through blues and jazz into Hip-Hop.
- Music Industry and Production Master class.
- Natives – talk about Akala’s new book - Akala’s bestselling 2018 book Natives is part biography part polemic that fuses stories from Akala’s own life with a historical scholarship to examine race and class in the ruins of the British Empire.
- The Power of Education - from growing up in a theatre, to black Saturday school, from playing football for West Ham United to running his own business to the bitter lessons learned from his friend's mistakes Akala has experienced many forms of education in addition to schooling. This talk examines what he learned from each of them.
- Police, Protest and Progress - a look at where we are now and where we go from here in the context of the global, multi-ethnic, anti-racist movement happening in 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary halt of live events, Akala has been attending virtual events. See the feedback that he received from attendees below:
"As a Citi employee I’d like to thank Akala for speaking last week. I learned a great deal and am extremely grateful." - James, Citi Bank
- 2018 - Published Natives: Race And Class In The Ruins of Empire
- 2009 - Founded The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company
- 2007 - Became the first hip hop artist to perform their own headline concert in Vietnam
- 2006 - Won a MOBO for Best Hip Hop Act
- Author of Visions
