In an era where conversations about wellbeing increasingly extend beyond hospitals and clinics, a growing number of artists are exploring how creativity can help people connect, participate and thrive.
Among them is Spencer Richard Momoh, professionally known as Spencer Percussionist, a Nigerian-born multi-instrumentalist whose work is beginning to attract attention for how it brings together African percussion, community engagement, and creative health.
Based in the United Kingdom, Spencer has built a diverse performance portfolio spanning festivals, cultural showcases, live productions, faith-based events and community programmes. As a percussionist, drummer and pianist, he moves comfortably between traditional African rhythms and contemporary musical settings, performing before audiences across both Nigeria and the UK.
Yet for Spencer, music has always represented something greater than performance alone.
“Rhythm has a way of bringing people together before a single word is spoken,” he says. “People may come into a room as strangers, but once they begin listening, moving or creating rhythm together, something changes.”
That belief has become increasingly central to his artistic practice.
Over the past year, Spencer has appeared at a number of recognised cultural events across Yorkshire and the North of England, including the Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA), Soap Box Spotlight presented by Stand & Be Counted Theatre in partnership with Showroom Cinema, Sauti & Spice by Sound Café, Utopia Open Mic Night and Àtūpá (The Spotlight) at CAST Doncaster. Through these appearances, he has become part of a growing network of artists using culture and creativity to engage diverse communities.
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Alongside his performance work, Spencer has developed a particular interest in Creative Health, an emerging field that explores how creativity and cultural participation can contribute to wellbeing, social connection and quality of life. His involvement in Creative Health discussions and sector events has allowed him to engage with practitioners, cultural organisations and community leaders who share a belief in the revolutionary potential of the arts.
For Spencer, African percussion offers a unique contribution to these conversations.
The djembe, one of his principal instruments, has long been associated with participation, storytelling and collective experience. Unlike many forms of performance that position audiences as passive observers, rhythm often encourages involvement. People clap, move, respond and become part of the experience itself.
This participatory quality is what Spencer finds most compelling.
Whether performing at cultural festivals, collaborating with community organisations or engaging in discussions around creative wellbeing, he is interested in how rhythm can create spaces where people feel welcomed, included and connected. His work reflects a growing understanding that artistic practice can contribute not only to cultural expression, but also to stronger and more connected communities.
His musical versatility has further strengthened that approach. Beyond percussion, Spencer is an accomplished pianist and has held performance and musical leadership roles across churches, festivals and cultural organisations in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The ability to move between instruments and musical traditions has made him a sought-after collaborator across a wide range of artistic settings.
Recognition of his work has also begun to emerge through independent media coverage. Following his appearance at Àtūpá (The Spotlight), a dedicated review published in ThisDay examined his musicianship and contribution to the production, highlighting the role his percussion played in shaping the audience experience.
However, Spencer views such recognition not as an endpoint but as encouragement to continue developing a practice that sits at the intersection of artistic excellence and social impact.
Looking ahead, he hopes to expand his work through performances, workshops and collaborative projects that introduce wider audiences to the richness of African rhythmic traditions while contributing to conversations around participation, inclusion and wellbeing.
As Creative Health continues to gain recognition across the United Kingdom, artists capable of bridging culture, community and creativity are becoming increasingly important. Spencer Percussionist represents a new generation of practitioners whose work demonstrates that rhythm is not only something to be heard, but something that can bring people together, strengthen communities and create meaningful shared experiences.
For now, he remains committed to the simple idea that has guided his journey from the beginning: when people share rhythm, they often discover they have more in common than they first imagined.
