AKALA is a BAFTA and MOBO award-winning hip-hop artist, securing the Best Hip Hop Act at the MOBO Awards in 2006, who fuses a unique rap/rock/electro-punk sound with fierce lyrical storytelling inspired by the likes of Saul Williams and Gil Scot-Heron. Demonstrating his drive to promote knowledge and education, Akala has been recognized as one of the top 100 most influential Black Brits on the annual Powerlist. He has also received honorary degrees from Oxford Brookes University and Brighton University. As well as a prolific writer, social entrepreneur, and articulate activist, he is the co-founder of The HipHop Shakespeare Company.

With an extensive global touring history, Akala has appeared at numerous festivals both in the UK and internationally and has led innovative projects in the arts, education, and music across South East Asia, Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. His discography includes albums such as "It's Not a Rumour" and "Freedom Lasso," along with mixtapes like "The War Mixtape" and a two-part mixtape called "Knowledge Is Power." He has also headlined a live performance at the British Library in 2010 and appeared on Charlie Sloth's show on Radio 1Xtra in 2011 and 2012. Akala has also appeared on NPR, PBS, MTV, BET, Channel 4, ITV, Sky Arts and the BBC promoting his music, poetry and speaking on wide-ranging subjects from music, race, youth engagement, British/AfricanCaribbean culture and the arts, with numerous online lectures, podcasts and performances that have reached millions via YouTube/Spotify.

Akala has extended his influence beyond music with his literary endeavours. His 2018 published memoir, "Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire," is a Sunday Times best-seller, having sold over 300,000+ copies worldwide. He also released a graphic novel/comic book called "Visions" in 2016, and a children's book titled "Hip and Hop: You Can Do Anything." Akala has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and articulate talents in the UK, known for his compelling lectures and journalism. He has written for The Guardian, Huffington Post, GQ, and the Independent. Also active in the political sphere, Akala supported Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2016 and 2017.

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