Nigerian trailblazer artiste Patoranking has joined forces with Grammy-winning dancehall artiste Buju Banton on his new single African Soldier.

Serving as the second single from Patoranking’s forthcoming fifth studio album, African Soldier is a stirring roots reggae statement piece that champions African pride, calls for the liberation of its people, and extols the global rise of black excellence.

Prolific reggae producer Jazzwad built the track with live instrumentation, giving it the full-bodied warmth and lift that proper roots records need, while Grammy-winning audio engineer Bonzai gives the track real weight without dulling its urgency.

The music video, shot in New York and directed by Nigerian film-maker UAX, also helps extend the song’s vision and its themes, carrying the song’s idea of pride, growth and collective strength into something visual and immediate.

Patoranking is one of the most defining global voices in Afro-dancehall, boasting over 2 billion global streams, Billboard-charting projects, and a catalogue that includes essential Afropop classics such as My Woman My Everything and Babylon.

Buju Banton is arguably one of the greatest reggae and dancehall artists alive. He previously held the record for the best-selling album and the most #1 singles in one year in Jamaican history.

Speaking about the inspiration behind African Soldier, Patoranking shared: “While working on my album, the goal for me was to go back to the music that inspired me. The sounds I grew up on, and reggae has been that core for me. My breakthrough single Alubarika was a good reference to this fact, so was my last release No Jonze.”

The artiste explained that reggae and dancehall blended with Afrobeats has been his primary sound, adding that “African Soldier is just that intentionally curated root reggae song that serves as a reminder of who we are and the power we possess as Africans and black people all across the globe. And having the legendary Buju Banton who over the years has been a great voice when it comes to matters concerning Africa’s liberation, growth, and unity on the continent to be a part of this record just complements the entire message this song seeks to convey.”