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The Fire from Africa feat. Micah Shemaiah, PuchoMan, The Gideon & Anyilena

from The Fire from Africa by Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston

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about

The new single "The Fire From Africa" from the upcoming Havana Meets Kingston - Part II album blends roots Jamaican reggae with Afro-Cuban chants, bringing together traditional and spiritual elements of both islands. Produced by Mista Savona and featuring Jamaican stars Micah Shemaiah, The Gideon and Sly & Robbie along with Cubans PuchoMan and Anyilena.

When Australian producer Jake Savona (aka Mista Savona) first travelled to Cuba in 2014, his original inspiration for the Havana Meets Kingston project was to bring together traditional and spiritual elements of both islands - such as the Nyabinghi drumming and chanting of Jamaica with traditional Cuban chants born out of the santería religion.

“The Fire From Africa” does exactly that - introducing the song with slow, meditative Nyabinghi drum patterns, that leads into a chorus based on traditional Afro-Cuban chants expressing a 'longing for the Motherland Africa'. The deep bass and drums of Sly & Robbie alongside Bongo Herman's steady Kette drum patterns create a heavy foundation that is perfect for Jamaican singer Micah Shemaiah to express beautifully the Rasta theme of 'Repatriation' - a longing that Jamaican Rastas have to one day return to the homeland Africa.

The second verse is by Cuban rapper PuchoMan from the highly political group La Armada based in Santiago de Cuba, who flows beautifully over the riddim and lyrically celebrates the meeting of the two cultures. 'Reggae is universal and international!' sings PuchoMan, who is currently in jail in Cuba for what is believed to be political reasons. Jamaican artist The Gideon follows with a formidable second verse, displaying his skill for the very Jamaican 'sing-jay' style that combines singing and toasting (rapping).

The chorus singers are from both Havana and Santiago de Cuba (opposite ends of the island, each with unique musical traditions). Solis and Julito Padron represent Havana (Julito is also considered one of the finest trumpeters in the world), while La Armada (PuchoMan and Krazyman) represent for Santiago de Cuba. Featured in the outro and also singing some beautiful adlibs throughout the song is another singer from Santiago, Anyilena, who was also featured on Part 1 of the Havana Meets Kingston project.

Another key contributor to the track is the lush and distinctive guitar of Bopee, a brilliant Jamaican guitarist who worked closely with legendary Jamaican singer Dennis Brown throughout the 80's and 90's. Bopee sadly passed away last year in his home in Kingston, Jamaica.

“The Fire From Africa” represents a true meeting of the souls and spirits of Jamaica and Cuba.

lyrics

Micah Shemaiah:
Seeds I sow
Feed my soul
Seeds I sow
Feed my soul
When I chant I free my soul
On to the land that was foretold

To the Mama Land
I wanna be living in Africa
That’s where I’m from
Wanna be living in Africa

Chorus:
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela

[The soul of faraway Africa
Fills my heart with fire]

To the Mama Land
I wanna be living in Africa, yeh
That’s where I’m from
Wanna be living in Africa

PuchoMan
Desde Santiago de Cuba viva la cultura Rasta
Un saludo fraterno a Jamaica
Reggae music universal, internacional
Que no pasa de moda, no cansa
Que penetra como lanza
Hasta la abuelita danza
Sinonimo de esperanza, alabanza
No importa el lenguaje
Ni lo quien lo interprete
Lo mas importante es el mensaje

[The Rastas from Santiago de Cuba
Salute Jamaica
Universal, international reggae music
Don’t get old, it’s still on
Like a spear gets into your ear
Everybody dancing
It brings hope and praise
No matter which language
Or who is singing
The only and most important thing is the message]

Chorus
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela

Micah Shemaiah:
Ooh La la la la le la aaaah Africa
Ohhhhh Africa

The Gideon:
I - I
From outta Africa we came forth,
Rasta youths centralize
Pon the banks of the Nile
Yeh we long fi hold a vibes
Free from the iniquity gotta hold a Ites
Bigger judgement and Binghi fire it go light
Mama Africa will always provide
Burn out the wars, stop your damn genocide
Beat the kette drum and we deh by the fireside
Hail Selassie I, burn the fire, keep it lively - yeh!

Micah Shemaiah:
Kayaman say
Soul a say
Soul a say (from Jamaica To Cuba)
Twelve tribes say
Soul a say
Soul a say (Yo Yo Yo, Boom!)

The Gideon:
From Morocco back to Mozambique
We keep it grooving
Tanazania go to Kenya we keep it moving
Trod through the Congo
Up to Cameroon
Back to Ethiopia
Yeh we chanting, yo!

Chorus
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela
Alma del África lejana
Llena mi pecho de candela

Micah Shemaiah:
Now on the shores of my Mama breast we lay,
Forever sure of the length of days we pray
And this road will not always be in grey
For every soul has a chance for a better day

Kayaman say
Soul a say
Soul a say
Twelve tribes say
Soul a say
Soul a say

Laaaaaaaa
La la le la
Yeah ahhh

Anyilena
Africa me llama
Africa me llama (x7)

[Africa calls me]

Micah Shemaiah:
One thousand miles away, yeah
One million minutes from today
But I go on and I hold strong
‘Cause I know
I will reach my home

credits

from The Fire from Africa, released February 5, 2021
Writers:
Micah Shemaiah Abrahams - 25%
Ricardo Casamayor Pujals - 12.5%
Aijah Nunes - 12.5%
Jake Savona - 40%
Lowell Sly Filmore Dunbar - 5%
Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare - 5%

Drums: Sly Dunbar
Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
Guitars: Winston ‘Bopee’ Bowen
Kette Drum: Bongo Herman
Nyabinghi Percussion: Bongo Herman, Shaun ‘Bugzy’ Anderson & Junior Bongo
Congas: Yaroldy Abreu
Mixed Cuban Percussion: Oliver Valdés & Vince Vella
Piano: Jake Savona
Backup Vocals: Francisco ‘Solis’ Robert, Julito Padrón, Ricardo Casamayor Pujals, Aristey Guibert Tejada & Anyilena Perera

Producer: Jake Savona

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Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston Havana, Cuba

The Havana Meets Kingston project brings together top musicians from Cuba and Jamaica.

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