A deep dive into the grand African music landscape will reveal that there’s more to the craft than the popular genre, afrobeats. As the genre continues to grow by leaps and bounds globally, there is the likelihood of lumping every sound out of the continent into it.
However, recent conversations have shown more artistes passionately embrace more genres like amapiano (which has over the last four years become the genre du jour), afropop, afro-soul, highlife, kwaito and its heavily influenced afrohouse — Black Culture and Yimeeka’s chosen medium of expression for this project.
Also clearly not new to this, Yimeeka had earlier in the year released her self-titled second studio project, which she described as a reflection of her growth and happiness as an artiste and a person. Through ‘Ola’, the leading single off INÓ, a four-track extended play featuring rising Afro-soul Taves and Starsamm, they express this in an artiste-producer collaboration.
The electrifying duo sign into INÓ with “Salamanda” featuring Starsamm. The track begins with Black Culture’s hi hats cuing in Yimeeka’s “Inó” chorus, sung in repetitive house style. It is enchanting, drawing listeners into the magic that is her voice. If anything, the background echoes speak of Angelique Kidjo’s influence on developing her own sound.
Following up with “Ota”, they go a few tempos higher. Here, in a flawless writing delivery of Yoruba and English, Yimeeka speaks of herself as resilient and stubborn, “nothing wey you do fit bring me down”. Black Culture experiments with Amapiano-esque elements making it an easy tune to dance to.
With “Ronju”, featuring Taves and co-produced by Grammy-nominated Damie, Yimeeka and Black Culture have an afrohouse anthem on their hands. Yimeeka reports her love in a verse that is soulfully complemented by a response from Taves. While the storytelling is one to gush over, the striking production collaboration between Black Culture and Damie shines through, elevating the sonic experience.
INÓ closes off with a seamless transition into the lead single, “Ola”. Yimeeka sings about a happiness that seems hard to find, but affirms that she will. At this point, Black Culture has proven himself, a highly skilled producer and sound engineer and Yimeeka, an afrohouse genius. Their undeniable chemistry creates a sequence of house music and soulful vocals.
As an afrohouse export, INÓ is a successful project blending House, Afrobeats and Amapiano influences. Having a play time of 15 minutes and just the right balance of heavy lyrical and vocal weight from Yimeeka and production from Black Culture, it is set to be the AfroHouse collaboration of the year.
Millennials across Africa and in the diaspora have the same picture of what the world should look like. We are documenting it in the coolest ways 🤘
