Raised in Harare’s dusty streets of Mufakose, defying all odds to become one of Africa’s biggest Dancehall act and a mogul in showbizz, South Africa based “King Of African Dancehall” and 10 time award winning artist Buffalo Souljah, comes full circle with his recently released 6th studio album, UNITY.
By Plot Mhako
Never shying away from the public spotlight, the soft-spoken but shrewd chanter decided to offer a rare package this time around.
An Afro-Reggae-Dancehall project which literally brought unity amongst a number of artists through music.
“The message in Unity is strength, unity means on market, unity is wealth. The concept behind the #UnityAlbum is me targeting African artists that I’m friends with to spread a powerful message of unity amidst the dark moments”
Buffalo Souljah
“My record label is also called United Nations of Africa Music Group which stands for United Nations of Africa Records so the mission has always been about creating one African market in the process.” – Buffalo Souljah
The highly conscious album opens up with a speech from the late icon Kwameh Nkrumah urging Africa to unite.
In the same spirit of oneness Buffalo Souljah teas up with South Africa’s top hop artist Yungsta Cpt and Dj Capital on the song Irie which samples Bob Marley in the intro.
Moving the tempo up the star reminds the world that no one is bigger than God in a song that i feel is one of the top tracks on the release.
South African born, Malawian recording artist, actress, model Zani Chala brings her magic on My Lova. A beautiful sing-along song meant for lovebirds will definitely switch up your mood and get you feeling in some type of way.
Despite living in South Africa for the greater part of his childhood Buffalo Souljah has not departed from his roots and remains connected as evidenced through the song Judgement which invokes the John Chibadura Reggae melodies as he pleads for respect for humanity and reminds bad-mind people that there shall be a judgement day.
Listening through the playlist one gets a feeling of a deeply meditated project, well informed by the struggles and desires the people of today all captured in diversity and versatility of sound.
Fly by Night is one song you dont wish to skip. Featuring the duo twins Locnvile the track maintains the Reggae feel with a twist of Pop and emotion. The song talks about broken girl who’s no longer looking for anything serious but having fun.
“The choice of collabos is one of the striking elements of the Album. It speaks volumes of Buffalo’s far reaching network and growing street cred on the continental music stage.”
— earGround
Without leaving out the crop of emerging young artists and those from his motherland Big Buff as he is affectionately known roped in Maggikal, Tocky Vibes, Zambia’s Roberto, Mr Kamera, Jae Young, Bryn Many, Brandon Splitar and Jamaica’s I – Octane, Nigeria’s Ice Prince, Starface,
If you are a hardcore dancehall fan then Ruff, Raged and Raw is your song. It will take you down.
Pregnant with both meaning and fun tracks the album carries interludes with speeches from global icons such as Nelson Mandela and seals off with another one from Kwameh Nkrumah.
We are rating the Album 4/5. Its a total package that deserves your ear..
Last week Buffao Souljah dropped a video for Irie which features Youngsta CPT & Dj Capital and it is an impressive body of work. Captured on the beautiful shores of Capetown and a neighbourhood filled with beautiful Rasta energy.
earground 