‘African Soldier’ Unites Buju & Patoranking

GRAMMY Award-winning dancehall legend Buju Banton joins Nigerian Afro-dancehall star Patoranking on ‘African Soldier‘, a roots reggae statement on African pride, Black liberation and the power of the continent. The record is deeply Jamaican in its making. Produced by Jazzwad (Bounty Killer, Popcaan, Damian Marley) and recorded with live session musicians from the island (drums, bass, keys, guitar and a full horn section) the track carries the warmth and weight of authentic reggae craftsmanship. Mix duties were handled by GRAMMY-winning engineer Bonzai (Mariah Carey, Nas, Chronixx).

For Patoranking, the collaboration is a return to foundation. Reggae has been the through-line of his entire career, from his breakthrough single ‘Alubarika’ to his most recent release ‘No Jonze’. “While working on my album, the goal for me was to go back to the music that inspired me, the sounds I grew up on,” he explains. “Reggae has been that core for me. Throughout my journey as an artist, reggae and dancehall blended with Afrobeats has been my primary sound. ‘African Soldier’ is that intentionally curated root reggae song that serves as a reminder of who we are and the power we possess as Africans and Black people all across the globe.” On why Buju was the only choice: “Having the legendary Buju Banton, who over the years has been a great voice for Africa’s liberation, growth and unity on the continent, on this record just complements the entire message.”

The accompanying music video, directed by UAX (Tyla, Rema, Tems) and shot in New York, brings the song’s themes of unity, excellence and liberation to life. ‘African Soldier’ serves as the second single from Patoranking’s forthcoming fifth studio album.

ABOUT PATORANKING: 

Patoranking is an award-winning Nigerian musician whose sound is global, his story grounded, and his mission bigger than music. Born and raised in Lagos, he forged his own lane from “nothing to something”, as first declared on ‘Alubarika’, by fusing afrobeats, reggae and dancehall into his music, not as a trend but from his lived experience in the streets of Ebute-Metta in Lagos. A cultural ambassador for the continent, he is one of Afro-dancehall’s most defining voices with era-shaping hits like ‘My Woman My Everything’ and ‘Babylon’,and culture-shifting collaborations with Major Lazer, Popcaan, Bryson Tiller, and the late great Bob Marley. He comes with a much-coveted catalogue that boasts over 2 billion global streams, and Billboard-charting projects, from his 2016 debut album God Over Everything to 2023’s World Best. On stage, he has taken that message to over 50 countries, from London’s O2 Arena and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival in Qatar.

Beyond the charts, Patoranking stands at the intersection of craft and purpose. Through his charity, the Patoranking Foundation, he has directly impacted over 5,000 young people, awarded 250+ scholarships across primary, secondary and university levels, launched tech scholarships, and unveiled a new community football turf in Lagos – work that he advances as the United Nation Development Programme’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, championing youth innovation, entrepreneurship and its Sustainable Development Goals. As a musician, Patoranking is bold and street-rooted, equal parts cultural guardian and global African voice, as reflected in critical acclaim from tastemakers such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, CNN, and Vogue, as well as major award recognition from The Headies, MTV Africa Music Awards, and AFRIMMA, and a two-billion-plus streaming footprint that travels across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, North America, and Latin America.

Caribbean PR Contact:

Abby Rowe // ab**@*******we.co // (876) 291-9220

CONNECT WITH PATORANKING

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patorankingfire

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patorankingofficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialpatorankingfire

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