Zik Zak

Over three years in the making, Zik Zak is an African musical odyssey, featuring some of the freshest talent from nine countries on the mother continent. Tying this remarkable range of artists together are German production team Ancient Astronauts, weaving the vocal talents of the African singers into their distinctive“Boom Dub” sound. Drawing on Hip Hop, Dancehall, Roots Reggae, Bass Music, Soul, Electronica and Breakbeat, the production incorporates live instruments and musical influences from all over Africa and its diaspora. The concept behind all these tracks is Zik Zak (“Zig-Zag” in English), mapping out each artist’s lifeof tragedy and success, in a context of global inequality and ruthless capitalism. It's easy to forget how much harder it is for artists and musicians to survive awayfrom the relative comfort of the richer parts of the world. In their own words: “With Zik Zak, we want to give a platform to young talents from Africa that are too good to ignore – they must be heard internationally. Africa is our motherland too, in the end. Civilization comes from Africa and that ́s where rhythm comes from. After too many years of slavery and exploitation of the African countries, it is time to shine light on the great talent of Mother Africa.” In Zik Zak, particular focus is on the intense and vibrant scene in Uganda, where local, mutant forms of Afrobeats and Dancehall have evolved away from the more familiar, globalized products of Nigeria and Jamaica. Ancient Astronauts established a base and partnership with local studio East African Records, allowing them to dig deep in thewells of talent in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Elsewhere, they established friendships and musical relationships with enlightened artists as far afield as Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Togo, Guinea and Senegal.