Alpha Blondy
Eternity
Is it still necessary to present Alpha Blondy, who since the 1980s has been the embodiment of African reggae? Let us simply remember that since the album Jah Glory in 1982, he has had a string of successes without ever giving up giving meaning to his music, denouncing injustices and castigating the powerful, mixing traditional instruments and synthetic programming. With over twenty studio albums spanning five decades, you would think he had said it all. Far from it, as confirmed by this new project, Eternity, which opens a new chapter in the saga of this tireless artist. Alpha music is about sharing. And its guests reflect this, with old timers and young hopefuls. In the first category, Clinton Fearon, singer of the Gladiators passing through Abidjan, brings her voice to this powerful title, Excision a plea against this violence against women that Alpha wrote after being traumatized by the excision of a cousin. Sidiki Diabat, son of Toumani Diabat, sings on "Layiri (Le Serment)", while his father plays the kora. A new example of this African-Jamaican mix that Alpha masters to perfection. Besides, who else but him would be able to make a remake of Bob Marley's "Soul Rebel" by titling it "African Rebel" and adding a bagpipe? 18 songs, 18 speeches, conscience, a double album under the sign of independence since this time, Alpha has freed itself from record companies and has become its own producer. Free as always, independent as ever, Alpha Blondy is making a comeback with Eternity. It was time.