Ancient Astronauts

Few releases coming out of Africa this year promise as much as the ZIK ZAK album from ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS, featuring underground artists from all sides of the continent, coupled with world-class production from the veteran German producers. Blazing ahead of this African Odyssey comes the KAMPALA FIRE EP, showcasing a selection of strictly Ugandan tracks from the album: Roots Reggae, Dancehall and Hip Hop from one of the most energetic and original music scenes on the continent. Chanting in Luganda and English, C WYNE NALUKALALA opens the set with a rebel salute to the youth. This is most relevant in a country where the majority are under 21 and the countrys dictatorship has ruled for over 35 years. Though his name means "Troublemaker", C Wyne is a respected cultural leader in the ghettos of Kireka, spreading a positive social and political message with his tough Dancehall style. On DDALA (meaning "Real"), SPYDA MC drops his "Lugaflow" in the local Hip Hop vernacular. The rapper-Rasta exhorts us to stay authentic and not hide behind fake titles. SPYDA is a member of Rasta drummers NILOTIKA CULTURAL ENSEMBLE and Hip Hop crew CYPHER KABAKA, mixing enlightened spirituality with the grit of the African street. BANI FYAH and BLESSED SAN both hail from the musical melting pot of South-Eastern Kampala, where they dominate the popular all-night Reggae sessions. BANI FYAH drops lyrics condemning slackness and corruption, while freestyle lunatic BLESSED SAN mashes up the scene like Idi Amin. The sound of the forest and tribal drumming brings us back to the Nile - the cradle of humanity - in the Dub-drenched stoners delight SOURCE OF LIFE by the Rasta drum circle NILOTIKA CULTURAL ENSEMBLE. Uganda is where the Rastafarian Nyabingi culture originates, taking its name and culture from an ancient East African warrior queen. Nyabingis resonance can be heard throughout this EP, but most specially in this deep, spiritual Roots track. ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS describe their music as "Boom Dub", a fusion of Boom Bap and Dub Reggae. Acr...