J.P. Bimeni

J. P. Bimeni, born Jean Patrick Bimenyimana Serukamba in Bujumbura, Burundi, is a British‑Burundian soul singer who began performing in school concerts before fleeing the 1993 civil war and resettling in the United Kingdom. After completing his education at the Atlantic College in Wales and the University of Lancashire, he moved to London in 2001 and joined local jam sessions, performing with Roots Manuva and Shingai Shoniwa. In 2017, during a tour in Spain, Tucxone Records signed him as lead vocalist for The Black Belts, leading to the 2018 release of the album Free Me, which featured the single "I Miss You" (Radio Edit) and received reviews for its blend of soulful ballads and funk jams. The artist followed with the album Give Me Hope on 2022‑02‑04, a work noted for its optimistic groove and homage to civil‑rights figures. In 2023 he collaborated with Moby on the single "Should Sleep", and in 2024 he performed under the pseudonym Mudibu at a Rwandan concert. Bimeni’s recordings have contributed to a growing presence of African soul music in European charts.