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Kundai Marunya
Arts Correspondent
Celebrated local musician Mukudzei Mukombe a.k.a Jah Prayzah seems to have missed the opportunity to shine on Morgan Heritage’s star-studded album “Homeland”, which debuted number one on different music streaming platforms across the globe.
Jah Prayzah, who features on the song “Maria” on the album released last week, was ‘lazy’ enough to recycle his old song with the same title, something that has irked his legion of fans.
Some music lovers see this as a missed opportunity as they hoped he would utilise the chance to be on a world class album, one that is likely win Grammy awards or at least score a number of nominations, to deliver something fresh, and outshine other African heavyweights on the album.
A self-confessed Jah Prayzah die-hard-fan Faith Mlambo said she expected more.
“With all the hype around Jah Prayzah working with multi Grammy Award winning group, I expected him to come up with something new,” she said. “Instead he just did a remake of an old song.
“Don’t get me wrong, the song is still good enough to be on the album, but he could have done better.”
Music critic Tafadzwa Muranganwa said Jah Prayzah missed an opportunity to redeem himself.
“Jah Prayzah’s last album was lukewarm at best,” said Muranganwa. “This was his chance to prove he still has it, when many people are saying he is spent, alas, they could be right after all.
“We expect more from a musician of his stature.”
But other music lovers are standing by the “Watora Mari” hit-maker.
Gerald Musanhi said the song takes him back in time.
“It was genius of Jah Prayzah to redo a song from the time he was still coming up,” he said. “It has so many memories and the new make is refreshingly different and makes one want to listen again to the old Jah Prayzah who had everyone singing along to all his songs.”
Sibongile Dube applauded Jah Prayzah for maintaining his original sound.
“There is no better way to maintain originality than redoing an old song recorded before any talk of collaboration,” she said. “Congratulations to Jah Prayzah and his team on making it on the album which carries the best from Africa and the Caribbean.
“Just being there on the project is a big win for Zimbabwe.”
The original version of “Maria” was released in 2011.
It was sang on a reggae beat and currently has a million views on YouTube.
A new afro-centric beat courtesy of diaspora based Zimbabwean producer, Jusa Demantor, some new lyrics from Morgan Heritage fused with some rap bars, the song still puts out Jah Prayzah as one of the best of his generation to come out of Africa.
Unlike many artistes who then sound like their collaborators, Jah Prayzah maintains his sound. Slated as 2023s ‘must hear world music project’, “Homeland” has been receiving rave reviews with the Grammy Museum reaction being, “Felt all the rhythm and vibes… fuse various sounds and melodies from around the world”
The 21-track collection marks a new era for Morgan Heritage as they expand their global reach from the Caribbean to the African continent and beyond.
With the aim of bridging their parents’ home of Jamaica to their ancestral homeland of Africa, Morgan Heritage brought together the biggest names across Caribbean and African music, including Shaggy, Beenie Man, Popcaan, Shatta Wale, Ice Queen Cleo, Youssou N’Dour, Mádé Kuti, Alpha Blondy, Otile Brown, Eddy Kenzo, Busy Signal, and Capleton, among others.
Already making waves is lead single “Who Deh Like U” off the album which features Bounty Killer, Cham and Stonebwoy.
The song debuted at number one on the United States iTunes Afro-Beat chart.
The group is currently on global promotional tour, with planned stops in Los Angeles, New York, England, Germany, France, Uganda and Ghana.
Morgan Heritage is a three time Grammy award-winning reggae group which is currently composed of the Trinity: Peetah Morgan, Gramps Morgan, and Mr. Mojo Morgan, all the children of late reggae great star Ras Denroy Morgan.
Online Reporter