This year, our Musical Road to WOMEX begins in Lagos with a musician we have followed for years, a trumpeter whose uncompromising sound now carries him to Tampere: Etuk Ubong.

After several attempts to bring this feature to life, the moment finally feels right, with his WOMEX showcase on the horizon and the release of a brand-new single “Far From Perfection” just days ago.

Born in Akwa Ibom State and raised in Nigeria’s largest city, Etuk Ubong has shaped what he calls Earth Music: a propulsive, spiritual language built from afrobeat, highlife, jazz and the ritual drumming of Ekombi. His performances are more than concerts; he describes them as “communal services”, politically and spiritually charged, with songs like “African Struggle” and “Mass Corruption” confronting injustice while affirming a philosophy of peace, love, unity and justice.

Already a central figure in Lagos, where he runs his own venue The Truth, Etuk Ubong has also built strong ties with London’s jazz community, performing with Steam Down, working alongside Jazz re:freshed, and appearing at Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here festival. His recordings, including a direct-to-disc session for Night Dreamer in the Netherlands, capture the same intensity as his live shows, marking him as one of the most compelling Nigerian voices of his generation.

As we set out on the road to Tampere, Etuk Ubong looks ahead to WOMEX, reflects on his path, and shares the sound world that continues to fuel his Earth Music. He will arrive in Finland supported by his remarkable ensemble The Etuk Philosophy, turning the WOMEX stage into the kind of communal gathering he calls for in every performance. To coronate this first chapter, we are also publishing an exclusive playlist compiled by Etuk himself, mapping the influences and inspirations that shape his musical vision.

Your sound carries the energy of Afrobeat, Highlife, and spiritual jazz, which you call Earth Music. How would you introduce this to someone hearing you for the first time?

Well, the music is centred around a story, like storytelling, educating the people about where I come from, my culture, my people, my heritage. This comes with rhythm, harmony, melody, soul and spirituality, drawn from how we commune and come together to have dialogue. The music feeds and heals souls. For a first-time listener, all that is needed is an open heart. You might hear Fela Kuti, James Brown, John Coltrane, alongside my Ibibio heritage and Yoruba chants, sometimes linked to Cuban rhythms. That is how I would introduce it.

Was there a personal turning point — perhaps growing up in Lagos or early in your career — that continues to shape the way you create music today?

Yes. I always knew I would be an innovator, though I didn’t realise how my music would develop its own rhythmic patterns. My upbringing exposed me to reggae, afrobeat, the Beatles, ABBA, Hugh Masekela and more, as my father was a record collector. Later I fell in love with jazz and began writing compositions. Reading “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and works on Fela Kuti deepened my sense of purpose, showing me that music can be a weapon and a message, a tool for education, healing and change. The turning point was becoming conscious of who I am, my culture, my people, and how to affect the world positively through music.

From Manchester to the “Manchester of Finland”: this year WOMEX lands in Tampere, a city known for turning factories into cultural spaces and for having more saunas than most people could try in a week. What are you most curious to discover about the city, and how do you imagine your music connecting with audiences there?

My first record deal was with a Finnish label, so I’m looking forward to returning. I want to experience the people, their culture, music, politics, lifestyle and artistic life. And yes, the sauna too, if I have the time. My music has a place in the world because it shares rhythms, stories, African history and spirituality. It is educational and deeply authentic, creating a communal, divine experience. That is how I imagine it connecting with Tampere audiences.

In a gathering of global traditions and genres, what makes your music distinctive, and what do you hope people will take away from your WOMEX showcase?

My music is unique in its rhythmic patterns, melodic variations, and singing styles that stay with listeners. The message is powerful yet simple: a reminder of our human purpose and responsibility to ourselves and the planet. I want people to experience the spirituality and transition into a higher realm that my music offers, and carry that with them.

WOMEX always sparks unexpected meetings. Are there particular artists or showcases you’re looking forward to experiencing in Tampere?

I am open to connecting with people from different cultures and visions. It is about cultural exchange, networking with labels, artists, booking agents, and even exploring opportunities in film. My aim is collaboration and adding value to humanity through music and dialogue.

Audiences in Tampere are known for their focus and intimacy. How does playing to that kind of attentive crowd shape the way you share your music on stage?

My shows are always communal services, intentional and spiritual. With an attentive and intimate audience, the experience becomes very organic. It is about sharing a moment together in deep focus. I look forward to that.

Tampere’s setting of placid lakes and tranquil forests is far from the bustle and vibrancy of Lagos. Do such surroundings influence how you connect with a place, and can they leave a mark on the way you perform?

Cultural exchange is about sharing ways of life. Lagos is very different from Tampere, but inspiration never runs dry. Nature or man-made surroundings can influence creativity, and I can always create music from such experiences.

You’ve often spoken about music as a vehicle for justice and unity. With today’s global struggles around war, inequality, and climate, is there a message you feel especially compelled to share through your WOMEX performance?

The message remains peace, love, unity and justice. We must realise we are one people, responsible for the planet. Our duty is to make the world a safe haven, free of war, bloodshed, division and confusion. My focus is on encouraging peace and conscious living together as one.

Beyond WOMEX, what lies ahead for you? Are there new collaborations, recordings, or projects you’re excited to explore?

I have close to 40 recorded tracks and enough music for two or three albums. I’m seeking a good label deal but might release independently if needed. Collaborations include a band in Denmark, and I’m preparing for a world tour next year. An album may also come out at the end of this year.

Finally, if you could write a personal invitation to the people of Tampere to come and discover your showcase, what would it say?

Hey beautiful people of Tampere, Finland, you are hereby invited to commune with Etuk Ubong and Etuk Philosophy at the Trade Village for our Sunday commune or any of our communes at the Trade Village. See you there!

Carrying his credo of “peace, love, unity and justice”, 
Etuk Ubong brings his Earth Music to WOMEX in Tampere on 25 October at 21:00, 
uniting afrobeat, Ibibio chants and spiritual jazz in a vibrant showcase at Tavara-asema.

PLAYLIST: ETUK UBONG X RHYTHM PASSPORT

You can find all the previous episodes of Musical Road to Womex HERE

Photo ©: Babalola Jinius Joseph