Juanita Euka

With Congolese and Argentinian roots and as the niece of rumba giant Franco, Juanita Euka boasts a unique music palette, fusing her African and Latin heritage to become one of the mainstays in London’s vibrant live music scene. Frontwoman of London Afrobeat Collective, Cubanfusion band Wara and Latin/Afro big band Animanz, Juanita released her debut solo album, Mabanzo (‘Thoughts’), on Strut Records this year to critical acclaim. Juanita grew up in Buenos Aires and moved to London at 14, but has always been in close proximity of Congolese music, Afro-Cuban music and Afro-Peruvian music; all of these cultures are embodied in her music, a rich, sophisticated palette of sounds inspired in the Cuban 50s, the Congolese 60s, and US and Brazilian funk and soul from the 70s- all with a cutting edge, modern and unique London twist. She will be performing with a 10-piece band exclusively for the London Latin Jazz Fest, directed by guitarist and composer Greg Sanders and including the likes of Graeme Flowers on trumpet (Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones) and Will Fry on percussion (Baaba Maal, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jungle).