Johannesburg is known as the melting pot of different cultures, and the crossroads were different artforms merge. It is not hard to see why anyone that is looking to find inspiration would come to Johannesburg the City Of Gold.
Africa Express takes the same approach to Jozi as an organisation. Africa Express is a UK based non-profit organization which facilitates cross-cultural collaborations between musicians in African, Middle Eastern, and Western countries.
In their endeavour to unite Africa through music, Africa Express travelled down to Johannesburg, South Africa, the hub of creativity and assembled an orchestra of musicians from the African Diaspora and converged in Johannesburg for seven days of non-stop creative exchange and this yielded an 18 track album entitled – EGOLI.
EGOLI
EGOLI – translates to Johannesburg in both to isiZulu and isiXhosa. This album is in essences an embodiment of African culture broken down to its musical element. EGOLI is also an audible representation of the vibrant, diverse city that is Johannesburg.
Listening to the cocktail that this project is, you form a greater appreciation of newer and older forms of native sounds. Thus one realizes that sonically we are not so different and this is a job well done by the individuals that are on the album. They somehow managed to put together different sounds that one would not normally associate with each other and made them work.
Featured artists include the likes of Phuzekhemisi, Poté, Radio 123, Remi Kabaka, Sho Madjozi, Sibot, Zola 7 and Zolani Mahola and Moonchild Sanelly to mention a few from the long list of artists featured in the album.
Almost every track on this album features multiple artists at a time, and you find yourself trying to picture the situation in the studio at the time of the recording all these tracks with all these artists, in just seven days.
The first track entitled Welcome features the Maskandi legend Phuzekhemisi. This song is a perfect catalyst for what to expect in the album.
Standout tracks
Welcome (feat. Phuzekhemisi)
The River (feat. Mahotella Queens, Zola 7 & Muzi)
Absolutely Everything is Pointing Towards The Light (feat. Zolani Mahola & Gruff Rhys )
Where Will This Lead Us To? (feat. Blue May, Radio 123 & Moonchild Sanelly)
No Games (feat. Radio 123, Sho Madjozi, Poté, Moonchild Sanelly, Ghetts & Muzi)
Sizi Freaks (feat. Moonchild Sanelly & Infamous Boiz)
EGOLI is available on major digital stores for download/streaming Here.
Listen to the suggested tracks above and let us know what your thoughts are in the comment section below.
