Joshua Idehen

British of Nigerian origin, Joshua Idehen has spent more than a decade building a career at the intersection of performed poetry, spoken word, contemporary jazz and electronic music. First recognized as part of the trio Benin City, he has since undertaken numerous collaborations across diverse contexts — from the British jazz scene to more club-oriented productions — crossing paths with artists such as Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming and Daedelus. His writing is highly rhythmic and relies on a spoken delivery that is precise and often direct, blending everyday observations, social reflection and more intimate narratives. Idehen works equally in collective formats and in more personal projects, where his voice engages with flexible electronic structures, house or broken beat pulses and arrangements marked by jazz. Among his recent releases, Learn To Swim (2021) with Swedish producer Ludvig Parment and the EP Mum Does The Washing (2024) extend this highly identifiable way of articulating text, cadence and musical production without separating the spoken-word sphere from the concert or club space.