The reggae artiste preaches unity and universal dialogue through his video tracks.
After 'Africa Oneness' in 2006 and 'Die For Africa' released in 2009, South Africa-based Cameroonian musician, Ankias Vallyman, has hit the spotlight again. This time around, the reggae artiste offers a musical blend of selected tracks from his first two albums titled 'One Taste.'
After over 10 years of musical experience in Cameroon, the artiste, formerly based in the North West Regional capital, Bamenda, moved to South Africa in 2011. The album's lead track 'One Taste,' is a colourful video shot in the streets of South Africa, inciting people from different backgrounds to celebrate by dancing to reggae played in African traditional rhythms. The theme of unity is preached for all races, countries and people to live and work together as one.
The songs recorded by Sono Records were arranged in DVD by late Lucky Dube's mentor, Richard Seluma, with whom Ankias Vallyman now works. In the second track 'Obama,' the artiste is celebrating the fulfilment of a Negro prophesy through Martin Lurther King Junior's "I Have A Dream" declaration that advocated the eradication of all forms of injustice on the black race. The ascension of Barrack Obama to the Presidency of the United States of America, according to the musician, is a universal recognition that all men are created equal.
Another key song in the album, 'River of Tears' is a soliloquy that recounts the story of a person disappointed with life and on the verge of giving up. But thanks to reggae music, he is able to find reason to live and face life's challenges. Other songs like 'Brotherly Love,' 'Rise Up,' and 'Culture' highlight themes of love, dialogue and hard work, while urging people to denounce social vices in order to make the world a better place than they met.
Ankias Vallyman presented the new product to the public during live musical concerts in Bamenda, Buea, Mutengene and Limbe. Ahead of visiting Douala and Yaounde, the award-winning artiste is lobbying for the arrival of Lucky Dube's orchestra, 'One People Band' and other international reggae artistes for a mega concert in Cameroon in December 2013.
