Ibeyi’s ‘Offering’, an Ode to Surrender and Renewal

On their first independent release, the French-Cuban twins deepen their exploration of Afro-diasporic identity and spirituality through an album that embraces surrender over certainty.

Ibeyi have always existed between worlds. Born in Paris to Cuban parents, twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz have spent the past decade blending Yoruba chants, Afro-Cuban batá percussion, soul, R&B and electronic music into a sound entirely their own. Their latest visual, ‘Aset’, shot on location in Havana, captures that connection to their Cuban roots while introducing the spiritual universe of ‘Offering’.

Four years after ‘Spell 31’, the duo return with ‘Offering’, their fourth studio album and first independent release after leaving XL Recordings. Rather than reinventing their sound, the record distils the themes that have defined their career while opening a more intimate and liberated chapter.

Photo: Lisandra Alvarez

The title reflects a personal shift. Lisa-Kaindé has explained that a vision of the orisha Yemayá inspired the move from casting spells to making offerings. Instead of trying to shape the future, ‘Offering’ embraces acceptance, trust and the act of letting go. Across twelve tracks, Ibeyi move seamlessly between English, Spanish, French and Yoruba, combining traditional batá rhythms with soul, electronic textures and collaborations with Michaël Brun, Pedrito Martínez and Sofiane Pamart. Songs such as ‘Olokun’, ‘Aset’, ‘Baba’, ‘Moshpit’ and the title track draw on Yoruba cosmology while reflecting on grief, resilience and transformation.

Photo: Lisandra Alvarez

Released through the sisters’ own label, ‘Offering’ also marks a new level of creative independence. The album feels intimate yet expansive, reaffirming the cultural heritage that has shaped Ibeyi from the very beginning while allowing their sound to evolve with complete artistic freedom.