SAUTI SOL’S POLYCARP, VICTORIA KIMANI & VANESSA MDEE DISAPPOINTED OVER LACK OF INCLUSION OF EAST AFRICAN ARTISTES ON LION KING MOVIE SOUNDTRACK

Beyoncé revealed African collaborators for new 14 track album dubbed The Lion King: The Gift for the remake of the Lion King Movie.

The album features international artistes Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Chidish Gambino, Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy among others.

Numerous African artists appear on the album, Nigerian pop stars Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi perform the song Keys to the Kingdom, Tekno and Yemi Alade on Don’t Jealous Me. Burna Boy has a solo track, Ja Ara E, while Cameroonian artist Salatiel appears alongside Beyoncé and Pharrell on Water.

Other African artists include Nigeria’s Wizkid, Ghana’s Shatta Wale, and South Africa’s Busiswa and Moonchild Sanelly.

Though the full concept of the movies is based on the Kenyan and Tanzanian scenery, none of the east African artistes were featured, “This is The Lion King ‘New Africa’ Album with soundtracks of the new Lion King Movie. For a movie who’s concept is fully based on the Kenyan and Tanzanian scenery, use of Swahili phrases and references, you would think they would at least consider artists from this region and not focus on artists from one country/region.

Believe me I have nothing against the artists picked, if anything I’m happy for them. It’s a lifetime opportunity that you can’t pass by! I am very much against the people who decide to present Africa with artists from one country or region. #kunamatata #lionking or maybe am being petty. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!” said Polycarp of Sauti Sol.

“As much as we celebrate with our fellow Africans the obvious exclusion of kenyans and East Africans on this soundtrack is depressing. The movie was based on Kenya.

Ya’lll coulda atleast had Lupita or Barack on the outro kenya since we don’t have artists in. rafiki, simba and nala are Kenyan,” added Victoria Kimani.

“Hii kitu ni biashara poly, na waPopo wako na interests zao. Wote wanajua filamu iko set in East Africa na kihalali tungestahili kupata kanafasi, lakini hatuna wanaotuwakilisha huko kwa maExec wa Disney au kwa team ya Beyoncé.

Isitoshe wakipiga mahesabu kihalali watu wa magharibi wanatuzidi kibiashara kwenye ununuzi wa bidha na mziki ndani na nje ya bara la Afrika.

Kihalali kabisa ingepaswa hii album ijae kiswahili na masound ya pande zetu lakini kwenye soko la kimataifa bado sisi sio wazito in comparison to watu wa magharibi. Wangepaswa kufanya research to fully embody the essence of Simba.

Lakini ndio hivyo. Na kiukweli ni misrepresentation na kuna matata lakini ndiyo hivyo soko linavamiwa. Shikeni la kwenu. Ownership,” said Vanessa Mdee.

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