Ras Nas new CD. Dar-Es-Salaam

With the emergence of Tanzanian artist, Ras Nas aka Nasibu Mwanukuzi, on the East African music scene, there is no doubt that the region’s musical terrain will never be the same.

[ClickPress, Thu Sep 13 2007] Ras Nas' long awaited CD ”Dar-Es-Salaam”, due to be released on 3rd November this year, is a follow-up to the debut, ”Cut You Loose”, and reflects a remarkable and qualitative change in Ras Nas’ music. While “Cut You Loose” was mostly experimental, with ”Dar-Es-Salaam”, Ras Nas appears to reach maturity and achieve a distinct identity both as studio and concert artist.

The nine tracks in “Dar-Es-Salaam” are all unique as well as individual potential hits. The title track “Dar-Es-Salaam” is a song that starts with a cool rhumba ballad and shifts to hot irresistible seben. It is a revisit to the classic sounds of East and Central Africa, but wrapped in the contemporary mood of the day. On the dance floor the song has proven to be captivating both to the old and the young. The song is a tribute to the city of Dar-Es-Salaam and its magnificent beauty. It is in this city that Ras Nas molded his interest in music and poetry. Other songs include Guantanamo, Zakina, Revelation Times, Dance Rhumba, Sina Makosa (a version of the mighty Simba wa Nyika), Sweet Rhythms, River Nile and Aisha. The lyrics for Sweet Rhythms and River Nile are taken from Nasibu's collection of poetry "Double Focus".

Reviewing Ras Nas ’ live radio concert, spring 2007, veteran music journalist with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, NRK, Arne Berg, put it in this way; “It was a memorable experience. From heavy dub poetry to exhilarating soukous – rarely has the public in Studio 19 shaken their bodies so thoroughly and seldom have we experienced such a sweaty, happy and smiling audience go home after a show!”

In "Dar-Es-Salaam" CD, Ras Nas has worked with a number of highly talented artists from nine different countries, a total of 24 of them, among them two renown arits from Dar-Es-Salaam; bassist Keppy Kiombile and guitarist Norman Bikaka.

Ras Nas writes, recites and sings in English and Swahili, the latter being the lingua franca of Africa. In other words, as an artist of sheer originality, he is laying down footsteps for others to follow. This is fresh and welcome news from a region that has hardly produced an artist of international caliber for the past two decades.

Ras Nas’ debut concert was in 1992 in Oslo, at the celebration to mark the 99th Anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I. In the Zodiac sign this was an event in itself. Since then, Ras Nas has performed for Nelson Mandela, shared the stage with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Lou Reed at the Norwegian Wood Festival, among others.

After all is said and done, the year 2007 finds Ras Nas in a high gear. In spring, Ras Nas was Artist of the Week at the Norwegian state radio after spending most of autumn/winter in InnerCity Studio in Oslo, working on “Dar-Es-Salaam”. In August Ras Nas played at Oslo Mela Festival and in November he is one of the artists at this year’s Oslo World Music Festival.

Kongoi Productions

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