This mix brings together some critical, potent black voices of emancipation across genres, geographies and generations. Through their music, they celebrate blackness, weave stories and memories; speak against injustices, forewarn of changing times. They invoke the past; projecting it unto the present as a way of prompting us to “wake up” and “remember”.

Mutabaruka’s “Dis Poem” sets the context and atmosphere. He carries it further with “History”. It is picked up by the likes of Nneka, Damien Marley, Seun Kuti, Majek Fashek, Nas. Shirazee’s “Tired” brings the mix to a full circle as we hear a sampling of James Baldwin’s revibrating words: “you always tell me it takes time, it has taken my father’s time, my mother’s time… how much time do you need for your progress?”.

We also pay tribute to legends who are no longer with us, starting with Hugh Masakela and rounding off with Fredrick, Nathaniel, Hibert of Toots and the Maytals.