Afrobeat star Seun Kuti has released a new single titled “Dey,” featuring Jamaican singer Damian Marley.
“Dey” is the first single from Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band’s upcoming album “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head),” set to be released on 4th October.
Seun Kuti and Damian Marley are both descendants of iconic musician-activists. Seun’s father, Fela Kuti, is widely credited as the founder of Afrobeat, while Damian’s father, Bob Marley, is a pioneering reggae figure.
Seun expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating that it “depicts African unity and African art. We are two performers, both from the dynasty of Africa, with a huge continental divide, singing about similar struggles. It doesn’t matter where we are positioned in this world; very few African people receive notability – we are, for the most part, seen as the underdog. Therefore, this song is all about embracing and championing who we are, regardless.”
Seun Kuti also announced that American rockstar Lenny Kravitz will executive produce the new LP, working with Sodi Marciszewer, who was Fela Kuti’s original producer. The project is also expected to feature guest acts from around the world.
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 are currently on their North America tour. The tour, which started on 8th June, includes 18 dates, with free performances in Brooklyn and Chicago. It will conclude on 27th July.
Listen to “Dey”
