Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Rekindle Fugees Magic at Diaspora Calling! UK Debut

The Fugees icons celebrated 30 years of The Score in front of tens of thousands at The National Bowl, as the star-studded festival drew major names including Tiwa Savage, Stonebwoy, Little Simz and Kano.

Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean give fans a taste of Fugees nostalgia on the Diaspora Calling! Stage (Photo: Stony Johnson)

Diaspora Calling! took over The National Bowl on Friday, with hip-hop icons Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean topping the bill for the festival’s inaugural UK edition.

Originally established by Hill in 2016, Diaspora Calling! made its UK debut with a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ landmark album The Score. Released in 1996, the acclaimed project blended hip-hop, soul, reggae and R&B and remains one of the defining albums of its era.

Tens of thousands of music fans descended on Milton Keynes for the festival, which featured performances throughout the day from Nigerian Afrobeats star Fireboy DML, British rapper Giggs, Erykah Badu and Michael Brun, with comedian Dave Chappelle serving as host. Chappelle also brought plenty of humour to the occasion, joking about Milton Keynes and admitting he had never heard of the city before.

Ms. Lauryn Hill at Her Diaspora Calling! UK Debut (Photo: Sotny Johnson)

The festival also attracted several notable names, including Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage, Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy, British rapper and actress Little Simz and Top Boy star Kano, reggae singer Pressure Busspipe among others.

The main attraction, however, was seeing former Fugees members Hill and Jean back on stage together. The pair delivered a mixture of solo material and Fugees classics, with Hill’s unmistakable voice and commanding stage presence captivating the audience, while Jean showcased his musicianship throughout the performance, including taking on guitar duties.

Fans were treated to selections from The Score, including the album’s title track and the timeless “Ready or Not.” While “Killing Me Softly” was notably absent from the set, the performance still offered a nostalgic celebration of the Fugees’ influential catalogue three decades after the album’s release.

The Fugees icons reunited at The National Bowl (Photo: Stony Johnson)

Hill and Jean also dipped into their respective solo catalogues, while Erykah Badu, one of the standout performers of the day, joined Hill for “Doo Wop (That Thing),” from Hill’s classic solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Family and reggae heritage also played a role in the celebration, with Hill’s sons joining the festivities. The set included music connected to Bob Marley & The Wailers and YG Marley, while Hill’s son Zion Marley performed the reggae classic “Three Little Birds.”

The inaugural UK edition of Diaspora Calling! ultimately brought together music, culture and generations at The National Bowl, with Hill and Jean’s reunion providing a fitting centerpiece to a celebration of the lasting legacy of The Score. With the UK debut now in the books, rumours are already swirling that Diaspora Calling! could be heading to New York next for another major celebration.