Lauryn Hill Brings Diaspora Calling! Festival to UK, Fugees to Perform “The Score” in Full

Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean made a striking appearance at London’s Piccadilly Circus ahead of the festival’s debut in the United Kingdom. The pair stood amid crowds of supporters as a short film curated by Hill and created by Los Angeles artist Lauren Halsey played across the massive LED screens at Piccadilly Lights, showcasing an animated collage celebrating global African diaspora figures and symbols.

The Diaspora Calling! festival arrives in the U.K. for the first time on Friday at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes, marking a decade since its inaugural 2016 edition in Brooklyn. Hosted by Dave Chappelle and featuring performances from Erykah Badu, YG Marley, Zion Marley, Giggs and Fireboy DML, the centerpiece will be Hill and Jean performing their landmark 1994 album “The Score” in its entirety to commemorate its 30th anniversary.

Hill explained that the concept for Diaspora Calling! originated following a show she performed in Ghana, where meaningful conversations sparked the vision of uniting global diaspora communities. She and Jean have cultivated connections across diaspora communities over the years, and Hill said the timing felt right to formally bring these audiences together in celebration of growth, healing and progress.

When asked about the artist selection process, Hill stated the festival organizers reached out to musicians they know, love and respect, receiving overwhelming positive responses from the creative community eager to participate. Hill indicated the concept will expand internationally, saying “Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely” when asked about additional global editions.

Hill reflected on how “The Score” has transformed both her relationship to the music and her audiences over three decades, describing it as a timeless work that takes on new energy and spirit with each performance. Jean echoed the sentiment, comparing the album’s enduring impact to canonical works by Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and The Police.

Performing “The Score” at Diaspora Calling! carries particular significance, Hill explained, as it embodies what the Fugees fundamentally represented: a call for unity, reflection and resistance to divisive ideologies while celebrating the brilliance and resourcefulness found throughout the diaspora. She emphasized that the Fugees rejected division as an option.

Hill also reflected on the approaching one-year anniversary of D’Angelo’s death, whom she and Jean honored at the Grammys earlier this year alongside Roberta Flack. Hill called D’Angelo “a timeless soul who made timeless music” and expressed the importance of protecting his family while celebrating his lasting musical brilliance.