Sons of Kemet announce they are breaking up
After 10 years together, the Shabaka Hutchings-led group have taken the decision to split
Last updated 6th Jun 2022
Sons of Kemet have announced that, after 10 years, they will be splitting up at the end of 2022.
The group made the announcement on social media, saying "2022 will be the last chance to see us in the form to which you've grown accustomed... we will be closing this chapter of the band's life for the foreseeable future".
The Jazz FM Award-winning, Shabaka Hutchings-led group have released four hailed albums during their 10-year run, with their most recent album Black To The Future released via Impulse! Records in 2021.
As part of the announcement, the band stressed that they will still perform the rest of the shows lined up in 2022.
The band will be performing one of their final UK shows at Love Supreme Festival 2022, performing alongside revered saxophonist Nubya Garcia.
Who are Sons of Kemet?
Sons of Kemet was formed in 2011, with the original lineup consisting of Shabaka Hutchings (saxophone), Oren Marhsall (tuba), Seb Rochford (drums), and Tom Skinner (drums). When Rochford and Marhsall left, they were replaced by Theon Cross (tuba) and Eddie Hick (drums).
Their debut album - Burn - was released via Naim in 2013, with their sophomore album Lest We Forget What We Came Here To Do also released by Naim in 2015.
The group then released their major-label debut with Your Queen Is A Reptile on Impulse! Records in 2018 - which was nominated for the Mercury Prize Award. Their final album - Black To The Future - was released in 2021.
In 2019, the group were awarded 'Album of the Year' at the Jazz FM Awards for their album Your Queen Is A Reptile.
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