Top things to know
- Nigerian artist Patoranking and Jamaican legend Buju Banton have collaborated on a new single 'African Soldier'.
- The song is a roots reggae anthem promoting African pride and liberation, previewing Patoranking's fifth album.
- Production involved reggae producer Jazzwad and engineer Bonzai, with a music video directed by UAX.
A powerful musical alliance has been forged across the Atlantic as Nigerian Afro-dancehall star Patoranking and Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton have collaborated on a new single titled 'African Soldier'. The track serves as the second preview of Patoranking's upcoming fifth studio album.
The song is described as a stirring roots reggae statement that champions African pride, calls for liberation, and celebrates the global rise of black excellence. It was built with live instrumentation by prolific reggae producer Jazzwad, while Grammy-winning audio engineer Bonzai handled the final mix, aiming to give the track substantial weight without sacrificing its urgency.
Patoranking, a defining voice in Afro-dancehall with over two billion global streams, explained the inspiration behind the project. He stated that while working on his new album, his goal was to return to the music that inspired him, citing reggae as a core influence from his youth. He pointed to his breakthrough single 'Alubarika' as an earlier reference to this direction. The artist noted that blending reggae and dancehall with Afrobeats has been his primary sound, and 'African Soldier' continues that intentional fusion.
Buju Banton brings his iconic status to the collaboration. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest reggae and dancehall artists alive and has previously held records in Jamaica for the best-selling album and the most number-one singles in a single year. To extend the song's vision, a music video was shot in New York under the direction of Nigerian film-maker UAX, translating the themes of pride, growth, and collective strength into a visual format.