Africa Unite is a compilation of ten catalog tracks from
Bob Marley & the Wailers in collaboration with a bracing assortment of 21st century Afrobeats. The delineation between the Afrobeat genre created by
Fela Kuti in the 1970s and the 2020s variety is an evolution in music making, framed by a media construct coined by British
DJ Abrantee.
Afrobeat wed Nigerian and Ghanaian folk and pop, highlife, jazz, funk, chanted call-and-response vocals, organic percussion, organ, and horns. "Afrobeats" is contemporary African music combining rap, contemporary West African pop, funky electronic and dance music, and complex polyrhythms. This technology-assisted uptempo approach employs beats, atmospheres, and influences popular on the international scene combined with the sounds of African music -- these songs have been reimagined not as covers, but as collaborations.
"So Much Trouble" features Zimbabwean dancehall artists
Nutty O and
Winky D (the latter's political music is banned at home), and retains much of the
Wailers' original style. Additional bubbling rhythm tracks are interwoven with the toasters quoting original lyrics and their own poetry above the backing chorus. "Dem Belly Full (But We Hungry)" commences as a sweet neo-soul groover before adding double-time house and trap beats, sublime, sweetly entwined vocals from Nigerian singer
Rema and
Damian Marley (
Cedella Marley Booker's son,
Bob's grandson). It is an urgent, emotionally uplifting collision of Afrobeat, dancehall, and neo electro-fused R&B. Given its ubiquity, some will likely judge the merits of this compilation by its version of "Redemption Song" featuring South Africa's
Ami Faku. Her gloriously emotive soprano (think
Minnie Ripperton) rises above jazzy horns, slippery guitars, floating keyboards, electric bass, and myriad rhythm tracks. Nigeria's
Tiwa Savage delivers "Waiting in Vain." Weaving syncopated organ above contemporary dub riddims, souled-out horns, and hand drums, she carries the lyric as an anthem of almost mystical romantic hope. The sensual ache in
Marley's eternal babymaker "Turn Your Lamp Down Low" is realized by British DJ
Afro B, as a paean to commitment through erotic desire. Nigerian female and male superstar vocal stylists
Teni and
Oxlade contribute a wonderfully nuanced, remixed, and lyrically appended "Three Little Birds" with extra verses from the singers. Ghanian rapper
Sarkodie takes massive liberties with "Stir It Up," reshaping and underscoring the iconic melody and proto-calypso-cum-reggae rhythm. American-born Nigerian singer
Davido offers a poignant reading of "Buffalo Soldier," while Nigerian singer
Arya Star transforms "Jammin'" into a sexy ballad. Closer "One Love" features Nigerian dancehall singer and songwriter
Patoranking, who balances a gorgeous tenor singing voice with syncopated toasting above a swirling mix of bass, harp, synthetic rhythms, and plenty of passion.
While most tribute comps are mixed bags,
Africa Unite is the opposite. Almost flawless in its presentation, these artists complement one another well, and approach the material with ambition and reverence. ~ Thom Jurek
