AZAWI has always delivered to her loyal fans. It’s as though the two are in sync ever since she dropped Quinamino, a song that blew up the Ugandan airwaves for its Zooka vibe. Following that, Azawi dropped an EP known as Lo Fit with hits such as Slow Dancing, Lo Fit, and Crazy Lover topping charts.
In 2021, the songstress released her first album AFRICAN MUSIC. This marked the beginning of her African dominance on international scenes like Trace, YouTube, and Apple Music. On 9th October 2023, AZAWI released her latest album SANKOFA.
Sankofa Album Review
Today, we are going through each of the 17 songs to find out the style and melody embedded in these songs. Do they resemble each other, or are they distinctively mastered?
1. SANKOFA INTRO
Of course, intros never make it to radio airplay, but are they that worthless? Azawi chooses to begin her album with a traditional Luganda ‘Kubulirila’ (a wise piece of advice).
We hear hand claps in the form of ancient music amidst the sound of footsteps walking amidst a forest with twigs. We also hear what sounds like a flame of fire in the wild at night.
Against such a backdrop, a man speaks with emphasis, “Kikulu nyo buli ssekinoomu okujjukira gyenvudde we, kubba kyizulidwa nti, ‘okusobola bulungi ebiseera byo ebyomumaaso, olina okudako emabega n’ofumintiriza newekeneenya ebyafayo osobole okutegera bulungi ebyomumaaso!'”
At this point, Azawi herself starts speaking to us, “How can I know where I am going, if I don’t know where I’m coming from? How can I get to the market if I don’t know which house I left from?”
The singer is telling us that SANKOFA stands for going back to our roots as Africans and finding that which we lost. “SANKOFA, go back and find it!”, she concludes. This album seems to be focused on reviving the African culture, but don’t take my word for the Gospel.
We are going to look at each song in depth to find out what AZAWI truly means by Sankofa.
2. Champion from Africa
The very first song off the album is this Afrobeat jam. Who expected a Ugandan to ever sing on such a foreign beat? Meanwhile, our question is answered! The album is taking us on a thorough journey deep into African roots
Azawi is telling us she is made from Africa and that when she goes abroad, she is a winner for life. The song is properly mastered with crisp original sounds hence popping out her message vividly.
Not only is Champion from Africa a traditional song, but also a victory song. Throw it in a sports event and watch the crowds go berserk.
3. Egaali | SANKOFA
Yes, this too is an Afro Beat! This is one of those songs a girl will sing when a man finally does something to her that she can’t resist. Azawi is telling us that this lad has stolen her heart and there’s no going back
The choice of beat tells us that she feels so ecstatic in this trap that she can’t escape. It’s quite clear the woman Azawi is representing has just fallen in love.
4. Summer Bae ft. Konshens
We all know Azawi is a great singer, but this was such a brave risk. Konshens and Azawi are different in a million ways and we hope this collaboration becomes a hit to make sense.
Turns out the song uses their contrast to produce a synthetic melody. Azawi does the sweet melody while she leaves the Jamaican complicated stuff to Konshens.
Either way, the song comes off as soft, slow, and fit for a beach relaxation party.
5. OMWENGE | SANKOFA
“Omwenge mulimu Ki?” the singer asks within the chorus. This song is so beautifully mastered that even if you don’t take alcohol, you may want to taste it. The song tells us how much money alcohol consumes and leaves us drunk.
Azawi makes it more personal by adding the fact that her lover is more addictive than alcohol. The song is nice and slow for any event.
6. Njagala Vibe ft. Sauti Sol
Azawi has risked her usual melody for a African traditional sound. Away from that, Sauti Sol singing Luganda is some whole insane experience. Of course, the jam is a party starter. “Njagala Vibe” is a popular Luganda phrase that means “I need some positive energy or vibe”.
The phrase often comes up at parties or casual leisure events to remind people to put their stress aside and live in the moment.
6. HARDER Ft. Elijah Kitaka
Now that’s what I call a new style of music! The song starts with a very romantic guitar, setting the pace for a dance beat. “If you wanna go hard, baby, then I wanna go harder!” are the opening lines.
This song easily sounds Africanly romantic without trying too hard. It’s interesting how Elijah Kitaka’s voice synchronizes with Azawi’s, or maybe the mastering was excellent.
7. INFINITY
R. Kelly once said that when a woman loves, she loves for real! On Infinity, the singer knows very well that the man she loves has lost interest. He ‘blue ticks’ her, he leaves her alone when she is tipsy.
And yet here, we have her reminding him that he belongs to her every night, every day, until infinity. Surely these lyrics hooked me and they make one attached to Azawi as she has said before she has some songs directly talking about her own life.
8. ELEVATED Ft. Elijah Kitaka, Mike Kayihura, Bensoul
This song is impeccably written and mastered in such a way that the minor audience will not pick up the adult lines. The singers assure us that their lover gives them total satisfaction such that they feel like they are on a pedestal.
The lover appears to be excellent at expressing their romance in such a way that the singer is feeling so good. Elijah, Mike, and Bensoul surprisingly utilized the 2 minutes to create such a unique song.
9. Lucky Day | SANKOFA
In this song, Azawi has met the man of her dreams. She is grateful he found her and he affirms to him that he owns her. She is using Afro Beat so it sounds like a public celebration rather than an intimate moment.
10. Ten over 10
This was the first single off this album before the official date of 9th October. The song managed to make it through both mainstream media and online platforms as a hit.
In this Afro Beat jam, the singer chose to use her melody to express her love for her lover whose performance she rates ten over 10. The lyrics are sticky and relevant and even if she uses Luganda, the song has made it to international media.
11. Married Man
This song could easily be misinterpreted to support high infidelity in society. However, we don’t know whether the married man Azawi is in love with got married to someone else after they had met or before.
Either way, the Afro Beat jam helps girls express their love for taken men. I would say, “Don’t try this at home!”
12. WORSHIP | SANKOFA
Don’t be fooled by the title! This is a sensual romantic intimate anthem. The singer wants to get her hands wrapped around the person she has fallen in love with.
The word WORSHIP is the most extreme synonym for the word ADORE.
13. OUTSIDE
Remember the song PARTY MOOD? Outside is the SANKOFA (local) version of that song. The song calls upon everyone in the community to get outside in a traditional way, “Wooyi wooyi wooyi”
Azawi reminds the listener that they are not a saucepan or TV, so there is no reason to stay indoors.
She adds that everyone is getting outside that day. You can suspect that this song is inspired by the Ugandan meme, “Tuli waweeru, Tuli outside”
14. MONEY | SANKOFA
Money is the topic here and the singer is telling us how much easier life is when one has money. She also says that the very God who gives others money is the one who is going to make her rich.
15. Brand New
The singer has chosen to divert from her usual melody. Azawi is using her lyrics as the hook for the listener. Are they strong enough to retain a listener? Anyways, Brand New is a song that expresses how a woman feels when they feel they have found The One.
She wants to tell all her family and friends about this lover who has made her feel special. It could make a nice TikTok trend if you ask me!
16. MY GOD
This Nigerian beat is such a game-changer when a Ugandan is brave enough to sit on it. Azawi is showing her gratefulness to God by calling him good. She is also telling the listener to cast their burdens on God no matter what they are going through.
In conclusion, we can both agree that this SANKOFA album came to deliver the African traditional feel to the listener. We also notice several circumstances where the lyrics seem so adult and only relatable to couples in intimate relationships.
The collaborations didn’t disappoint as much, but some were such huge risks like when AZAWI featured Konshens. Either way, we understand that Azawi has a strong fan base and we are excited to watch how the public receives this album.
Many thanks to Azawi for putting together such unique sounds that several artists are afraid to invest in.
