London-based bi-lingual artist Man Like Nells drops off his extraordinary EP ‘ROOTED’.
Lead by the energetic and traditional single ‘Mama’, Man Like Nells is able to channel his African heritage on the track laced percussions and modern 808s. ‘Mama’ echoes lyrics of Central Africa’s National Anthem written by the founding father of the country Barthélemy Boganda, “De nos ancêtres la voix nous appelle” (Let’s answer the call of our Ancestors).
In the accompanying video, Nells invites the world to see and learn about the Central African Republic’s history, monuments and lifestyle. By returning to his ancestral home, Nells offers a message to his fellow members of the African diaspora, dispelling the notion that only Africans living on the soil should be considered Africans.
The concept behind ‘ROOTED’ is to exhibit the understanding of his ancestor’s history from the perspective of a Black European. Producing the album himself, Nells wanted to showcase the rich and diverse textures of black music, fusing sounds from reggae, gospel, hip hop, and soulful jazz; and in doing so he has created a vibrant collection of songs created to both educate and inspire.
Watch the visual for ‘Mama’ and stream the full EP below
