Sometimes it feels like the world is stuck in an endless cycle of bad news. Then someone puts on music that only pulls you deeper into it. Or there’s another option: music that doesn’t deny reality, but refuses to leave you there. Joshua Idehen’s spoken word exists somewhere between poetry and music, speaking directly to the listener. His texts explore relationships, everyday life, and the things that still hold us together. Even the most serious subjects are delivered with a sense of lightness, as when the line, “Choose a balanced diet / Eat the rich,” slips in, reminding you that irony can be a powerful tool.
British-Nigerian poet and performer Joshua Idehen is one of those voices that tends to find you rather than the other way around. After emerging from London’s open mic scene, he went on to collaborate with acclaimed acts including Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming. Today, he works closely with Swedish producer Ludvig Parment, together pushing spoken word beyond literary events and into compelling live performances. His breakthrough came with Mum Does The Washing, a piece that began as a Twitter thread before unexpectedly changing the course of his career. In 2026, he returns with the album I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try, a deeply personal yet collective work built on empathy and shared experience. Experience Joshua Idehen live on the Steel Stage at Colours of Ostrava, where this kind of performance truly comes into its own.