Naïka brought global sounds of South Africa, Haiti, France and More to London’s KOKO
The vibrant pop artist took us on an intimate journey, featuring family tributes and powerful kompa beats.
Photo: Press
Naïka’s second sold-out show at KOKO London felt like something rare — a room full of people hearing their own stories told back to them. Drawing on her multicultural upbringing across France, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, South Africa and the USA, the singer brought the full world of her debut album ECLESIA to an iconic London stage, blending R&B, soul, kompa and French influences into something entirely her own.
Since ONE TRACK MIND caught the attention of millions online — many listeners on social media intrigued by the Haitian Creole she was singing in — Naïka has been rising steadily across France, the UK and the USA. The show made it clear she’s not here to be neatly packaged. Alongside the joy, she made space for Identity, which reflects the complexities of belonging and personal growth, and WHAT A DAY!, which addresses the destruction caused by foreign troops in Haiti, the plight of children around the world, and the challenges facing Congo. This was a show that wanted to make you feel something: all of it.
Love was another predominant theme running throughout Naïka’s show. She performed her 2023 hit single 1+1=3, a song about being in love. As she sang, I looked around the room, seeing young couples dancing together, singing along to the lyrics, “I can’t believe my eyes / That you were meant to be mine.” You could really feel the love in that moment — not just between couples, but in the friendships too, with friends vibing with one another through laughter and smiles.
“Let’s leave all our worries by the door for a moment, tonight is all about love.”
Naïka reminded us of the importance of family love and the lasting impact it has on who we become. As she paid tribute to her great-uncle Gerard Chamier, known in Haiti as “the human flute,” Chamier’s face appeared on the screen in a powerful graphic with subtitles from a recording of Naïka’s mother speaking about him. It was an intimate and emotional moment. She then sang her 2021 song For Gerard, which was inspired by her great-uncle and features a recording of his distinctive whistling.
Another song to follow on the theme of love, and one of the closing songs the artist sang, was Blessings. It’s a bold track where we hear Naïka talking to a female god — an intentional choice. The song inspires and reminds us of hope, self-belief, and confidence in trusting ourselves while letting go of fear and doubt. One of my favourite moments was hearing the crowd sing Blessings back to Naïka in perfect unison, like a choir.
Naïka took us to Haiti in the last ten minutes before the encore. She, of course, sang ONE TRACK MIND, and it was amazing to hear Haitian Creole on an iconic London stage for the first time. She then transitioned into her 2024 song 6:45, starting it differently with a lively, upbeat kompa beat. When she sang lines like “Got me confused for a homebody, it’s such a pretty pity” and “I can do bad all on my own”, it felt like a powerful declaration. Like, ‘Fuck you, I’m over it!’
I left the show feeling proud of my Caribbean heritage. It was beautiful to see Naïka represent Haiti on a major UK stage. The performance reminded me of the power of music. Despite life’s challenges and all the sadness in the world, music can bring people of different ages and cultural backgrounds together for a moment, reminding us to pause, be present, and embrace love.
