ABOUT DJ BANKO
More than a DJ, DJ Banko is a cultural architect, community powerhouse, and a bridge between West African sounds and the UK underground. As the founder of Banko Fam Jam (BFJ), he has turned nightlife into a sanctuary of identity, belonging, and pure energy. This is his story — from roots to revolution.
DJ Banko
Architect of the Sound, Father of the Fam
“We Didn't Wait For an Invitation — We Built Our Own Soundstage.”
When DJ Banko first landed in the UK, something was missing from the nightlife: the soul, the brotherhood, the raw authenticity of back-home gatherings. Clubs were playing Afrobeats, but they treated it like a passing trend, stripped of its roots and stripped of the culture. Banko refused to accept a sanitized version of something that was born in sweat, pride, and community.
So he did what pioneers do: he created his own space. Starting in Sunderland in 2021 with just two speakers, a borrowed mixer, and forty believers in a damp basement, Banko Fam Jam was born. What started as an intimate haven quickly erupted into an unstoppable movement across the North East and beyond.
Known for marathon sets that seamlessly fuse Afrobeats, Amapiano, Highlife, and UK Afro-fusion with an electric, unscripted crowd interaction, DJ Banko doesn't just play tracks — he orchestrates emotional journeys. Every drop has purpose; every transition tells a story.
“The music isn't about me. It's about every African, every student, every diaspora kid who ever felt homesick or out of place. When they walk through those doors, they are home. That's the mission. That will always be the mission.”
— DJ BankoFrom Underground Basements to Arena Stages
The First Sunderland Basement Jam
40 friends and students packed into a damp Sunderland basement with two rented speakers and a borrowed mixer. The police shut it down at 3am, but the spark was ignited.
The Second Basement Jam
Word spread across university campuses. Over 450 people queued around the block in Newcastle. The crowd was so electric the venue owner begged Banko to make it a monthly residency on the spot.
The First Afrobeats & Amapiano Festival
From basements to a full-scale festival production. Over 2,000 attendees, international guest DJs, live drum ensembles, and an unforgettable celebration of African music and culture in the heart of the North East.
ENTER THE WORLD
WE CREATE AFTER DARK.
Every frame tells a story of freedom, community, and unfiltered joy. Take a glimpse into what happens when the bass drops and the family unites.
Book DJ Banko or Partner with BFJ
Available for club residencies, festivals, university events, private celebrations, corporate functions, and brand collaborations worldwide.