“Pamoja”, Etana’s latest album, dropped June 25 by her Freemind Music label. The 16-song set is released one year after Gemini, her previous album.
Etana wrote or co-wrote all songs, which includes “Malaika”, a sensuous piece she sings in Swahili. Other ear-catchers are “Melanin” which celebrates blackness and “Walking Away”, about a broken relationship.
There are several collaborations with Junior Gong (“Turn up di Sound”), Vybz Kartel (“Baby O”) and Alborosie (“Jamrock Vibez”).
“Pamoja” came out one week before Etana makes her big show return at the Freddie McGregor-promoted Big Ship Music Festival which takes place July 3-4 in Port Charlotte at the Port Charlotte Fairgrounds in Florida. Michael Rose, Cocoa Tea and Chino McGregor are also on the bill.
This is 37 year-old Etana’s seventh studio album. The first was the impressive "The Strong One" which was released in 2008; that set contains the breakout songs, “Wrong Address” and “Warrior Love”.
Etana, whose 2020 tour dates were sidetracked by the Coronavirus, gets back in swing this summer with several US dates.
Written By Howard Campbell