Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, comprising two-thirds of the legendary hip-hop group the Fugees, performed their seminal album “The Score” in its entirety as Hill’s Diaspora Calling! festival made its United Kingdom debut at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The event marked the festival’s expansion a decade after its inception in Brooklyn, with comedian Dave Chappelle serving as host and a lineup that included Erykah Badu, YG Marley, Fireboy DML, and others.
Reflecting on the performance afterward, Hill told the Associated Press that the group’s original mission sometimes gets obscured but must be reclaimed. Performing the album during its 30th anniversary year, she said, “was wonderful,” adding, “We get the time back. We get the time back every time we do that.”
Hill’s son YG Marley, who also appeared on the bill, credited the album with shaping his own artistry. “That album grew me,” he told the AP. “I make reggae music, I still make my little rap music too. And that’s what made me turn into a rapper.” Her other son, Zion Marley, joined her onstage for a rendition of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Three Little Birds.” He said the album’s legacy “just keeps me on my toes,” emphasizing the standard of total commitment set by his forebears. “They didn’t take it half. You know they went fully for it and they made sure that they put their love and their every being into their music,” he said. YG Marley described their mother as a strict parent who brought them to shows from the age of eight, fostering the ambition that drives them today.
Attendees highlighted the festival’s unifying atmosphere. Chris Grimes called Hill an icon, noting the rarity of witnessing such artists. His sister, Deborah Blythe, celebrated the event’s spirit of togetherness amid societal division. Fellow festival-goer Elle Erinly echoed the sentiment, praising the amplification of love and unity across cultures. “I’m seeing different patterns, different prints, beautiful people, not just people who are from the African or the Caribbean, people that are in solidarity from other cultures all here to enjoy,” she said.
The UK debut of Diaspora Calling! underscored the enduring impact of the Fugees’ music and Hill’s vision of cultural convergence, setting a resonant precedent for future editions of the festival.
