Cobhams Asuquo, The Salako Set to Headline Abuja Afrojazz Festival 2026
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| Cobhams Asuquo (Nigerian Musician) |
The Abuja International Afrojazz Festival returns for its fourth edition from November 18 to 21, 2026, introducing a Professional Music Market designed to link Nigerian music professionals with key international industry players.
The festival will include music showcases, a cross-border artist residency and a grand finale concert headlined by award-winning singer and producer Cobhams Asuquo. He will perform alongside festival founder The Salako, Jessica Bongos and other international acts.
Scheduled for November 19 and 20 in Jabi, Abuja, the Professional Music Market will host about 20 international professionals from 10 countries. Participants include festival directors, promoters, booking agents, journalists, intellectual-property experts, artists and managers.
Backed by the Institut français Nigeria and the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the initiative aims to help Nigerian artists and industry stakeholders explore partnerships, international bookings, touring opportunities and co-productions.
The two-day programme comprises keynote presentations, panel discussions, industry clinics, business-to-business meetings and one-on-one sessions between Nigerian artists and visiting professionals.
Day one, themed CONNECT, will examine African and global music ecosystems, intellectual property, monetisation and the influence of digital technology on the music business. Day two, themed CREATE & DEVELOP, will focus on the European music ecosystem and on sessions designed to foster professional partnerships.
Showcase performances will take place at The Nordic Abuja on November 19 and 20. Seven acts were chosen from 75 applications received from 26 countries. They include four Nigerian performers and artists from the United Kingdom, Benin Republic and Austria.
The festival will also run a four-day residency featuring Togolese musician Papyrus, Beninese artist Pepe Oleka and Abuja-based Pearl Rocker. The trio will co-create new material for presentation at the closing concert.
The grand finale takes place on Saturday, November 21, at BALI City Park, Wuse 2. The line-up features Asuquo and his band, The Salako, Bongos, Chile-born Gustavo Cerqueiras, Greece-based Adedeji and the residency participants.
Speaking ahead of the event, The Salako, founder and festival director, said the festival is broadening its focus beyond live performances to create opportunities for Nigerian musicians to access international markets.
“Abuja is Nigeria’s diplomatic capital, and we believe it should also be a meeting point for African and global music,” he said.
“This year we are not only putting great artists on stage. We are bringing the people who book festivals, run labels and build careers into the same room as our artists.”
Founded in 2021, the festival has grown into a platform that blends music, cultural diplomacy and creative-industry development. Its 2025 edition drew more than 1,000 guests, including diplomats such as ambassadors from Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Egypt.
The organisers said the 2026 edition will also prioritise sustainability and inclusion through online ticketing and stronger representation of women among performers, speakers and industry professionals.
Organised by Afrojazz Festival Nigeria Limited, the festival seeks to strengthen links between African musicians, international music markets and touring networks.
