Damon Albarn’s Africa Express Announces New Album EGOLI for July 2019 Release and Shares New Song “Johannesburg”

Africa Express has announced it will be releasing a new album this July, a project titled EGOLI. Africa Express is an organization, spearheaded by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, which works to help musicians from Africa and the Middle East connect with those farther abroad. The new album by Africa Express is just the most recent major musical project by the group, with the organization putting out various different full length albums over the past decade. The announcement of a new album was also accompanied by the first single from the project, titled “Johannesburg.” The song has the same South African influences seen in Africa Express’ recent EP. The EP, titled Molo, was released earlier this year almost as a teaser for the full project being put out later this summer.

It is no secret that Africa Express has been working on promoting the sounds of South Africa lately, with the organization creating a short album with local artists in Johannesburg last year. The Molo EP from earlier this year reinforced that direction for the group at the moment, leading to the announcement of the full EGOLI album. The album is going to be 18 tracks in length, and feature an incredible group of musicians working to promote the new music and ideas coming out of South Africa today.

Starting with their first event in 2006, the group has put on various performances in cities around the world featuring different artists from some of the most underrepresented regions in music. One of Africa Express’ most notable performances was at the 2012 Olympics in London, where the group put together a collection of musicians to play in a train touring the UK for a week. The performances were tied to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad events taking place during the games.

The mission of the Africa Express organization is to give more musicians who may never be heard outside of their region an opportunity to work with people from around the globe. Africa Express was created in 2005 by Albarn and other collaborators and since then has worked to showcase regional music to a worldwide audience. Some of the collaborators with the organization include Albarn, drummer Nick Zinner and, recently, South African band BCUC. The full tracklist for the upcoming EGOLI album can be found below, along with the new single, “Johannesburg.”

Photo Credits: Raymond Flotat

Tracklist:

1. “Welcome” feat. Phuzekhemisi
2. “City In Lights” feat. Georgia, Mahotella Queens, Otim Alpha, Nick Zinner
3. “The River” feat. Muzi, Zola 7, Mahotella Queens
4. “Bittersweet Escape” feat. Mr Jukes, Nonku Phiri, BCUC
5. “Johannesburg” feat. Gruff Rhys, Morena Leraba, Radio 123, Sibot
6. “Become The Tiger” feat. Sibot, Damon Albarn, Mr Jukes
7. “Africa To The World” feat. Infamous Boiz, Dominowe, Otim Alpha, Mahotella Queens, Nick Zinner, Remi Kabaka, Radio 123
8. “Absolutely Everything Is Pointing Towards The Light” feat. Gruff Rhys, Zolani Mahola
9. “Where Will This Lead Us To?” feat. Moonchild Sanelly, Radio 123, Blue May
10. “Mama” feat. Otim Alpha, Georgia, Radio 123
11. “No Games” feat. Sho Madjozi, Poté, Moonchild Sanelly, Ghetts, Muzi, Radio 123
12. “Morals” feat. Moonchild Sanelly, Mahotella Queens, Muzi, Mr Jukes
13. “Taranau” feat. Otim Alpha, Gruff Rhys
14. “The Return Of Bacardi” feat. DJ Spoko, FAKA
15. “Sizi Freaks” feat. Infamous Boiz, Moonchild Sanelly
16. “Twirl” feat. Poté, Ghetts
17. “I Can’t Move” feat. Damon Albarn, Moonchild Sanelly, Mr Jukes, Sibot, Blue May
18. “See The World” feat. Mahotella Queens, Damon Albarn, Gruff Rhys