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Ollah Juru, Soul Jah Love in collabo

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LOCAL gospel musicians rarely collaborate for recordings in comparison to other genres, but instead they prefer engaging secular singers for duets.

LOCAL gospel musicians rarely collaborate for recordings in comparison to other genres, but instead they prefer engaging secular singers for duets.

WINSTONE ANTONIO

As a reflection of the accession, gospel musician Bishop Samuel Ollah Juru has collaborated with dancehall chanter Soul Jah Love on his forthcoming five-track album titled Diaspora due for release this Friday.

The album is Juru’s seventh.

Having a closer look at the local showbiz scene, it seems as if many musicians are relishing the sweet fruits of collaborations. And it seems as if dancehall music is slowly getting into the DNA of every musician.

Alick Macheso has a dancehall set at his performances and the number of musicians who now appreciate the genre is increasing with Sulumani Chimbetu also having collaborated with Soul Jah Love on his forthcoming album.

Speaking to NewsDay, Juru’s manager and son Taurai said with this album they have targeted audiences from all generations.

“There is nothing wrong with doing collaborations with secular musicians and this is not the first time for Bishop Ollah Juru to record a duet with a secular artiste,” Juru said.

“Soul Jah Love has a good voice and is from a younger generation hence we decided to combine the two voices on this album to give it a dancehall taste.”

The album which was recorded at Gramma Records will be marketed and distributed by Diamond Studios.

The first track, which features Soul Jah Love, Kukura Kwedu, is a marvel to listen to. Its first lines done by Soul Jah Love will get any follower of the genre grooving yet disappointingly; he disappears for the rest of the song after two verses and comes back nine minutes later to sign off with his typical rhymes that collates Bishop, barber shop and tuck shop.

Nditambirei is the second track that many in the Diaspora can relate to.

It explores the lowly jobs that some are doing just to make sure they bring riches back home.

Soul Jah Love features on another track Nevanje that talks of the first-born son who is being advised to be responsible after taking over the roles of fatherhood from his late father.

Other tracks on the album are Xenophobia that encourages unity among Africans, Amai veVana and a remix of Eriya, a track from a previous album Hapana Mutsvene.

Juru said there was nothing wrong with collaborating with a dancehall artiste.

“Some people actually love the track, but some are asking why. My response to that is dancehall artistes are people like everyone else,” he said.

Diamond Studios marketing manager John Muroyi confirmed to NewsDay the album would hit the market on Friday.