Warriors From The East - Tazama Mashariki (MacLes Music Factory Productions)

Led by the charismatic Lwanda Magere Ataka aka Ras Magere, the band has been steadily building a solid reputation in East Africa.

Though Warriors From The East have previously described themselves as an afrofusion band, drawing on traditional sounds from tribes like the Maasai and Luo to craft their unique Nile blues style, ‘Tazama Mashariki’ is a straight-up reggae production.

The album title translates from Swahili as “look to the east”, a loose interpretation of a quote often attributed to Marcus Garvey: “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand.”. The closing and title track features a compelling vocal trio: Jamaica-born, Ethiopia-based Sydney Salmon, Germany’s Uwe Banton, and Ras Magere himself.

Other guest appearances include Rwandan artist 2T Reggae Man on ‘Salamu’, and Guyana-born, Antigua-based ‘Promise No Promises’ (no stranger to MacLes) on ‘Tuungana Pamoja’ (“let’s unite”).

‘Unforgettable Tanzania’, a feel-good anthem doubling as a perfect tourism promo track, borrows its name from the country’s official tourism slogan. And then there’s ‘Nefertiti’, a tribute to the legendary Egyptian queen, laid over MacLes’ unmistakable Puff Puff riddim.

For those who believe only Europe lies awake over the horrors unfolding in Gaza, ‘Freedom Of Palestine’ offers a powerful reminder that Africa, too, watches and empathizes.

Reggae releases from Tanzania are a rare treat - read: virtually unheard of - and ‘Tazama Mashariki’ stands out as a genuine discovery, shining a new light on East Africa’s growing reggae movement.