Jahman is a very chill rastaman from Cameroon, whom we met in Bamako where he now lives. He recorded his debut album, Reste dans l’Amour in Bamako, at producer, arranger and multi-instrumentist Manjul’s Humble Ark studio, both household names for African reggae lovers. The album features a handful of amazing dub versions by Manjul. Don’t let the dubs fool you though, the original versions are great as well. Available on iTunes April 14.

Lloyd from Eden Roots Liberation introduced me to his friend Jahman, who was born in Cameroun but now resides in Bamako, Mali. He’s a reggae singer, with one album out in Mali. “Waiting for the News”. All songs – half of them dub versions – are written by Jahman, arranged and produced by Manjul. They recorded the entire album at Manjul’s Humble Ark studio in Bamako. Jahman also has a track on Humble Ark’s “United Voices of Africa” compilation.

Contacts at the Centre Culturel Français (French Cultural Center) of Bamako pointed me in the direction of young musicians experimenting with traditional sounds and new music styles. I met Chanana, leader of Diata Sya, who’s first album is both creative and diverse, with hip hop and dancehall songs using typical Malian instruments and chords. Yet it’s never been released outside of Mali, it almost got released in France but the project fell through the cracks. We’re happy to give it a second chance, this time worldwide!

Through the CCF I also met two other great singers. First I met Lloyd, a Sierra Leonese who fled the war in his native land, and settled in Mali where he formed Eden Roots Liberation with his partner Patrick. I also met Jahman, who is originally from Cameroun but also chose to live in Bamako. Akwaaba will release both of their reggae albums, Genesis and Waiting for the News, which were produced and arranged by roots-sound wizard Manjul. Oh and Jahman’s album has some very nice dubs…

Eden Roots Liberation’s Sierra Leonese singer Lloyd Tommy (Bamako, Mali)