While he has never been to Africa, Eisaku “Selector A” Yamaguchi has followed developments on that continent for many years.

In 2014 he compiled the album Reggae Loves Africa, featuring songs by reggae’s top artistes.

In July he will release a follow-up, Reggae Loves Africa Vol II, through VP Records.

He told the Jamaica Observer it is inspired by Nelson Mandela, the anti-Apartheid icon and South Africa’s first black president.

Like its predecessor, Volume II has 10 songs, including Music Is The Rod by Garnet Silk, Africa is Calling by Frankie Paul,
African Liberty by Luciano, and Black Woman & Child by Sizzla.

“The songs on this album were chosen to reflect Africa — its beauty, rich history, and incredible people, as well as the challenges it continues to face,” Selector A told the Observer. “Some of the songs express the message that within Africa, there are still struggles and issues we must address together to rebuild and heal. This reflects the need for a collective effort to overcome internal challenges. I focused on music that tells the story of Africa’s past, its culture, and the ongoing struggles it faces today.”

Selector A says Africa is still daunted by exploitative outsiders, corruption, and poverty. He wants to convey that imbalance on Volume II.

“The truth is, there are still many countries, even now in 2025, including Chad, where issues like food crises, conflict, and civil wars are ongoing. Around 35 countries [in Africa] are dealing with these problems,” he said.

Selector A’s hometown of Kanagawa in southern Japan is miles apart in distance and culture from Africa. He discovered reggae there during the early 1990s, with his love for Jamaican culture growing when he moved to New York City in the middle of that decade.

— Howard Campbell