Imagine a musical journey through Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya/ Burundi), in just 4 minutes and 4 seconds. As unbelievable as it may sound, that’s exactly what you get in Joh Makini’s latest song Perfect Combo, alongside Chidimna. And no, this is not one of those heavily crowded tracks with more than 5 artists, each one of them scrambling for a single line in the song that makes you think….What the actual f***!
Representing Tanzania is Hip Hop heavy weight Joh Makini, with his effortless Swahili lyrics. And just when I thought he would rap about anything but matters of the heart, it turns out that “huu mchezo wa mapenzi Makini ana talanta”…. (Makini’s got talent in this love game- as he himself puts it.
With Nigeria’s afropop star Chidimna’s convincing style of telling love stories as depicted in her previous songs, she plays a major role in making this particular song stand out, bringing in just the right amount of energy and equally strong vocals.
While Joh Makini has been working with Tanzania’s Nahreel a lot in the recent past, and rightfully so, bringing it to Kenya by having RKay produce the song was one of the best musical choices he has made. The perfect mellow tune complements the message of love, while striking a balance between the Hip- Hop and RNB blend, with neither being watered down.
Justin Campos finally has us land in South Africa, introducing us to their distinct vibrant culture, through color and excellent visual quality that speaks nothing short of perfection.
So there you have it, the perfect combination of creativity making a wholesome song that truly represents the rich and diverse African Culture.
You’ve probably already watched Africa by Yemi Alade and Sauti Sol and thought that this has got to be amongst the best things to have happened to the continent. I do agree with you, so let’s get down to exploring the 3 major factors that have contributed to making this the outstanding collaboration that it is.
Credibility
It’s one thing to say that you are proudly African, but another to have a lifestyle that constantly confirms the statement to be true.
Long before Africans had discovered the potential of afro- pop, Sauti Sol was bold enough to explore this unique genre with authenticity that was previously rare. Simple music with an acoustic feel and meaningful lyrics have characterized their music and slowly but steadily been embraced as a unique African export, that sells within and beyond the continent.
On the other hand, Yemi is one who has rightfully earned the “Mama Africa” title, through her expressive persona and exemplary dressing that constantly represents the continental values. Need I say more?…The song is a perfect piece of art consistent with who Yemi and Sauti Sol are and what they have constantly proven to believe in, making them equally believable on this one.
The East and West representation
Nigeria has for a long time been thought of as the “capital of African Music.” Having an East (Kenya) and West (Nigeria) representation of Africa in the song is a brilliant idea with an undeniable inclusive approach that speaks oneness and a common vision of general continental thrive.
Great chemistry
If you watched Yemmi Alade performing with Sauti Sol on Coke Studio Africa Season 3, then you would know that the boy band blends perfectly with the Nigerian star, you would think it was a group of 5. Great energy, exceptional talent that isn’t afraid to push boundaries, this is definitely a match made in heaven.
Boy am I glad that this wasn’t a charity kind of collaboration…(the kind that has such a big star being paid to feature on a mediocre song by an upcoming artist, after which we as the audience have to deal with the nightmare of a song but act like we like it simply because our favorite artist is on it).
Share what you think about the Yemi/ Sauti Sol collaboration too.
If there’s a song I have been listening to every single day for the past one month or so, it has to be Nkwatako by Sheebah Karungi. The beats, Sheebah’s strong personality brought out and of course the Luganda flow in it is simply amazing.
Just in case you don’t know, Sheebah was previously an Obsessions member, having joined the musical girl group in 2007 but left in 2009, with the need to change the direction of her career, as she felt she would achieve more as a solo artist. She then started her own label, alongside Chameleon’s brother Pallaso, Team No Sleep (TNS), one that till date she is a part of.
Back to Nkwatako,( Luganda for “Touch Me”), a story of two lovers who are having differences but in efforts to restore their previously good relationship. The song’s beats have an up- beat characteristic to them with a Dancehall feel, one that you could dance along to and have fun while at. Primarily done in Luganda, with a mix of English and Jamaica’s Patois language, the vocal quality is excellent, with consistency and notable confidence.
The intro is well done, slowly getting you into the song and perfectly setting it up, with a light trumpet vibe and lyrics that you would be forced to play over and over again just to get them right, in order to enjoy the song more.
The video was shot in Uganda’s Entebbe, by the country’s leading videographer Sasha Vybz, who also did Sheebah and Pallaso’s Go Down Low, Leila and Chameleon’s Relaxing as well as Iryn Ntale’s Ono Mwana. With Sheebah being the good dancer that she is, her well-choreographed moves with her dancers would have you glued to your screen while attempting to learn the moves, even with two left feet.
Behind the scenes Nkwatako Video Shoot (Image courtesy of i.imgur.com)
The video concept of a street bash at a basement parking is certainly a breath of fresh air but unfortunately, one that was poorly executed. The non- complimentary relation between the audio and the video fails to tell the story of what exactly Sheebah is talking about on the song, which is what any good video ought to do. Besides the dancing, there is really not much worth watching.
That aside, compared to her previous songs among them Twesana, Sili Zari and Ndiwanjawulo, this has got to be one of my personal favorite songs from Sheebah. Not to restrict her creative space, but I feel like the TNS singer delivers more when she goes for the up- beat danceable kind of songs.
My friend Pepper requested that I review Pascal‘s Sitaki and all I did through the rest of that day was think about the song and draft short notes about it. So here we are, I definitely had to do a review.
First things first, I am so glad that we could get more of Pascal even after Techno Own the Stage. Rarely do we get artists and especially those from Africa advance their music careers after participating in musical contests, (which makes me question how relevant such contests are).
Sitaki (Swahili for “I don’t want”) is a simple title and yet one that easily got me curious, to listen to the song just to find out what exactly Pascal does not want. The 4 minutes and 13 seconds video to the song will also get you hooked in the first 5 seconds as a girl is running away from a man, but with another waiting for her by the gate on a motorbike, a story that you would certainly want to follow up on.
Directed by Natasha Likimani, the screen writer for Veve, the video is black and white, with a simple setting in a modern home, making it very easy on the eye. This is however not your traditional Kenyan music video, with a sensual touch (but rightfully so, based on what Pascal is singing about). Both Pascal and his video vixen Niki Behr are actors with excellent acting skills and great chemistry, making their story believable.
For the longest time, Anto NeoSoul has remained unchallenged as one of Kenya’s top male vocalists but now, we have Pascal who will be giving him a run for his money. Pascal has an amazing voice with equally strong vocals. (His is not just the ordinary “I Can sing” type of voice.)The tone of his voice on Sitaki is also appropriately mellow, passing across the message of love in the best way possible. It is also hard to miss out on the passion in his voice that would make anyone listening long for the kind of love that he sings about on this particular jam.
Pascal’s first song Usiniache is no longer available online and so we can treat this as his debut song, considering we have nothing to compare it with.All in all, Sitaki is a great song and I cannot wait to see what’s next from Pascal.
Is there a song that you would like me to review? Let me know
2015 has been a great year for Africa’s music industry. Evidently, there has been noted improvement on the quality of the content being put out there and it would only be fair to commend all industry players for their effort. However, there have been those who stood out for me and therefore had their songs qualify to my list of top 10 songs of the year;
10.Shake Yo Bam Bam- Sauti Sol
Branding has contributed a lot to making Sauti Sol the big name it is. The boy band that comprises of four has remained authentic and yet still allowing room for evolution and growth. They are not afraid to experiment, which makes it hard to predict them, as seen on this one. While you may not agree with me, sampling different lost trucks that were popular back in the day, compressing them all into one and having people dancing along while reminiscing makes this song a HIT.
9.Nana- Diamond Ft. Flavour
The dance moves aimed at wooing his girl and the great picture quality with a touch of simplicity makes this such an enjoyable song to watch. As if that’s not enough, Diamond’s great talent and passion brought out through his music is one that would keep you listening all through, with Flavour adding the extra spice needed to make this song the success it is.
8.Woju (Remix)- Kiss Daniel Ft. Davido and Tiwa Savage.
The creativity on Woju’s lyrics made it very sweet and very nice (see what I did there?….no?…OK ). Even with big stars Davido and Tiwa Savage on the same song, Kiss Daniel still maintains his spotlight, proving to be a great artist to look out for, despite not having been in the industry for long.
7. German Juice- Cynthia Morgan
There was a time I thought dance-hall music was dead and buried. Cythnia Morgan (and a few other African artists) changed my mind and this song was one of the reasons why. It doesn’t matter whether you are inclined to a particular genre of music, this one is hard not to love.
6. Eish- Kenyan All Stars.
It brought together Kenya’s music heavyweights Ulopa, Kristoff, Abass, Yvonee Darcq, Petra and Gabu all on one truck. But then again, let’s just be honest…the girls on this one killed it.
5. Temperature- Yemi Alade Ft. Dil.
The strong vocal delivery by both Yemi and Dil indeed made my temperature rise. The video shot in London is one that will keep you glued watching, with a beautiful story line complementing the song’s message.
4.Nusu Nusu- Joh Makini
I have never considered myself to be a Hip- Hop head (in fact, rarely am I bumping my head to killer rhymes..mostly it is usually just about the beats for me) but this ….this was sick. And it got me listening to Makini more than I was to the beats (not that they were anything shot of incredible though).
3. Obe Baba (remix)- Raj Ft. STL
This is one of those songs that makes you realize just how cool it is to embrace one’s roots. Who knew that Kisii language could sound so damn good? And with STL jumping on it, this was and still is a massive tune.
2. Game- Navy Kenzo Ft. Vanessa Mdee.
Now this is what happens when a producer is also an artist.
(Greatness-just in case we still are not on the same page). This is because the producer/artist has a better understanding of the music. They do not just think about the production elements of a song but are able to fit into an artist’s mind space, to think about the creative aspect of a song and how best to deliver it, which is what Nahreel does here. His partner Aika together with Vanessa Mdee also did a great job on this one, adding a feminine touch to it and making it pleasurable to listen to.
Nobody But Me- Vanessa Mdee Ft. K.O
The old school vibe on the video that is a 10 is just a plus, complementing an equally amazing audio. Needless to say, having South African rapper K.O jump on the truck was a genius idea, creating a perfect blend of the two artists, while each of them represents their individual unique personality.
By now you might have figured that Nahreel is my producer of the year while Justin Campo my Video Director of the year.Also, Tanzanian music is doing exceptionally well (as you may have noticed from my list) and we may have a lesson or two we may learn from them.
Share your thoughts. What are your best African songs for the year 2015?
Last week was indeed a great week for fast rising artist Cece Sagini who in addition to getting engaged released her new “I’m a Doer” song featuring Octopizzo. With a soulful and jazzy feel to it, this is a laid back 3 minutes and 59 seconds tune, encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone and to work towards fulfiling their dreams and goals in life.
The audio produced by MG Production is incredible and with Cece’s strong vocals, one cannot help but love it. The video was directed by Moses Osidana, who also directed Wangechi’s Cardiac Arrest Video. Complementary to the song’s audio, the video is simple yet classy, therefore telling better the story of what one stands to gain by being a “doer”. The visual appeal is one that cannot be missed out on, with great lighting on a modern breath taking urban setting, combined into a variety of shots.
Octopizzo and Cece Sagini (Image courtesy of nairobiwire.com)
Cece’s choice of Octopizzo as the featured artist to the song is well thought through as he represents a “rags to riches” story that has been made possible through his hard-work. Octopizzo delivers on this one with heavy punchlines that do justice to the song. This is indeed amongst the best collaborations that we have had in the recent past.
Under her slogan #CeceOnAMission which started last year on December 31, “I’m a doer” is inspirational with lessons we all can borrow from. As she elaborates on an interview with the Daily Nation, the slogan is “a constant reminder of where I would love to be and it also serves as motivation and inspiration to myself and others: ‘If I’m doing it, we all can.” This way, we are reminded that success is not a destination but rather a continuous journey through which we should strive to be better each day.
This is certainly a song that you should check out if you haven’t done that already.
I would love to know what you think about it as well, so do share.
Two of Dem by Victoria Kimani is based on the concept of having everything by the double, making the most of life and ultimately getting all that one wants. The message behind the song is clearly brought out through the video, having Tanzania’s Vanessa Mdee and South Africa’s Nomuzi Mabena making a cameo, with both being successful women in their different fields and therefore the best representatives of what Kimani is talking about on this one.
The song was produced by OHK Entertainment‘s Drey Beatz, a Nigerian producer and recording artist, who has previously worked with top Nigerian artists among them Skales, Ice Prince and rapper MI. Victoria Kimani’s strong vocal ability is evident on Two of Dem, with noted maturity as an artist. Compared toShow, Prokoto and Mtotowhich were all club bangers, Two of Dem is more laid back, with a contemporary RNB feel to it.
The video that is 3 minutes and 8 seconds long was directed by South Africa’s Media and Film Production House Studio Space, with the shooting also done in South Africa. The video helps in telling better the story behind the song, beginning with Kimani walking across a dessert, with the sun beaming on the horizon, creating a perfect mental picture of the world being an open space, full of hope and opportunities waiting to be explored.
The neutral colored background on the rest of the video is easy on the eye and ensures focus on the message behind the song and Victoria Kimani as an artist, which is what a good video ought to do. Besides having lighting that is perfect and a resulting clarity of the video, the make-up on Kimani is just right, accentuating only that which needs to be accentuated. Even while she has others including dancers and two great stars on the video, she still owns the spot-light.Like in every of her other songs, she explores her femininity with great sex appeal expressed through her dressing. However,Kimani is notably subtle on this one, rocking black hair.
On the Flip Side:
The artificial colored effects popping up every once in a while are unnecessary and clearly not well thought through.
That aside, Two of Dem is definitely a quality video that compliments a good audio track and one that can compete on an international level.
What do you think?
Yemmi Alade‘s Temperature is the 5th song off her “King of Queens” album. Produced by Effyyzzie Music Group’s Dil, a producer and an RnB singer who also features in the song, this is definitely in my list one of the most amazing African tunes of 2015.
Yemmi Alade Temperature Video Poster (Image courtesy of notjustok.com)
With a mix of English and Igbo languages, the song proves Yemmi Alade’s versatility as an artist. Compared to Johnny and Tangerine where the singer came off as tough and strong, Temperature reveals a different side to her, which is warm and vulnerable. The strong vocals by both Yemmi Alade and Dil add quality to the audio bit of the song, making the listening experience pleasurable. While the visuals for the song were done in London, the African in it has not been lost as Yemmi Alade embraces the beauty of African print and chunky jewellery. Her make- up is well done, skin glowing and the hair still very African like in her other videos. The use of color for the video is perfect and this combined with all other mentioned aspects, this is a video that you would be drawn to watch to the very end.
Yemmi Alade (Image courtesy of olorisupergal.com)
The four minute song has Yemmi Alade starting us off and then later joined by Dil who makes it conversational, which is what love and relationships are all about. Each of the artists is in a different place yet still connected by what they feel for their lovers. The fact that the video has been built on a story and with such expression of emotion especially by Yemmi Alade as she talks to her lover on phone makes the audience connect with the song and its message, which is very important. The video is simple and yet still very elegant.
Notably, Yemmi Alade has been very consistent in ensuring that her videos are relate-able making her the “girl next door with amazing talent that everyone has no choice but to love”. This incredible laid back song certainly proves that she is indeed a King of Queens and a force to be reckoned with.
Fikra is Swahili word for THOUGHT and chungu also from Swahili word CHUNGUMZIMA meaning MANY. Most people have great stories to share yet they do not have a voice. I found a voice
afromuziq 