Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean performed the Fugees' album "The Score" in full during the Diaspora Calling festival on Aug. 7 [2].
The event marked the 30th anniversary of the 1996 album [3], serving as a cultural milestone for Black music and community celebration in the United Kingdom.
The performances took place at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes [4, 5]. An estimated 35,000 people attended the festival [1], which aimed to create a dedicated space for the celebration of Black culture.
Backstage, Hill said to the Associated Press alongside artists Rapsody, YG Marley, and Zion Marley [6, 7]. The group reflected on the enduring legacy of "The Score" and its impact on subsequent generations of musicians. Wyclef Jean also joined the performances to bring the classic record to life for the crowd.
The festival featured a broader program of tributes, including honors for the musician D'Angelo [2]. By bringing together diverse artists from the diaspora, the event highlighted the global reach of the Fugees' sound, a blend of hip-hop, reggae, and soul that defined an era of music.
Organizers said the gathering was more than a concert, framing it as a community-driven experience [8, 6]. The presence of the Marley family underscored the connection between the Fugees' influences and the roots of reggae music.
“The event marked the 30th anniversary of the 1996 album”
The full-album performance of 'The Score' underscores the lasting influence of the Fugees on global music. By hosting the event at a large-scale venue like the National Bowl, the Diaspora Calling! festival demonstrates the continued commercial and cultural viability of 1990s hip-hop and soul when framed as a heritage celebration rather than a standard nostalgia tour.
