Global Music Trailblazer Patoranking and Dancehall Legend Buju Banton Call For Black Liberation On ‘African Soldier’.
Powerful roots reggae offering serves as second single from patoranking’s forthcoming fifth studio album.
Award-winning Nigerian musician and global music star patoranking kickstarts his 2026 campaign with ‘african soldier’ featuring grammy award-winning dancehall legend buju banton. The powerful roots reggae offering is a statement piece from patoranking and buju banton that champions african pride, calls for the liberation of its people, and celebrates the global rise of black excellence. Serving as the second single from his forthcoming fifth studio album, ‘african soldier’ sees patoranking reconnecting with the reggae and dancehall sounds that shaped him, while reaffirming the musical foundation that has always run through his afrobeats journey. With this release, patoranking reminds africa that our stories are alive, our culture is expansive, and our music remains a living force as he speaks to unity across the continent and the strength of black people worldwide.
Produced by Jazzwad (Bounty Killer, Popcaan, Damian Marley), ‘African Soldier’ reunites Patoranking with the revered chart-topping producer he previously worked with on ‘Cheating Zone’ from his debut album. The track leans fully into Patoranking and Buju Banton’s love for live musicianship, with Jazzwad recording the drums, bass, keys, guitar and full horn section with live session players from Jamaica. This adds warmth, lift and authentic reggae resonance to the track, while Grammy-winning audio engineer Bonzai (Mariah Carey, Nas, Chronixx) delivers a meticulous heavyweight mix that reflects the level of craftsmanship behind the message. The accompanying music video for ‘Africa Soldier’, shot in new york and directed by nigerian filmmaker Uax (Tyla, Rema, Tems), further brings the song’s themes of black and african pride, unity, excellence, growth and liberation to life.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘african soldier’, patoranking shares:
“While working on my album, the goal for me was to go back to the music that inspired me. The sounds I grew up on, and reggae has been that core for me. My breakthrough single ‘Alubarika’ was a good reference to this fact, so was my last release ‘No Nonze’. Throughout my journey as an artist, reggae and dancehall blended with afrobeats has been my primary sound. So ‘african soldier’ is that intentionally curated roots reggae song that serves as a reminder of who we are the power we possess as africans and black people all across the globe. Having the legendary buju banton, who over the years has been a strong voice on africa’s liberation, growth and unity, be part of this record perfectly complements the message this song seeks to convey.”
More about Patoranking
Patoranking is an award-winning nigerian musician whose sound is global, his story grounded, and his mission bigger than music. Born and raised in Lagos, he forged his own path from “Nothing to Something”, as first declared on ‘Alubarika’, by fusing afrobeats, reggae and dancehall — not as a trend but from his lived experience in the streets of ebute-metta in Lagos. A cultural ambassador for the continent, he is one of afro-dancehall’s defining voices with era-shaping hits like ‘my woman my everything’ and ‘babylon’, alongside collaborations with major lazer, popcaan, bryson tiller and the legendary Bob Marley. His catalogue has amassed over two billion global streams, with billboard-charting projects from his 2016 debut album ‘God Over Everything’ to 2023’s ‘World Best’. On stage, he has taken his message to more than 50 countries, from London’s The O2 Arena and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to the FIFA World Cup fan festival in qatar.
Beyond the charts, Patoranking operates at the intersection of craft and purpose. Through the Patoranking Foundation, he has impacted more than 5,000 young people, awarded over 250 scholarships across primary, secondary and university levels, launched tech scholarships, and unveiled a community football turf in Lagos. He also serves as a regional goodwill ambassador for africa with the United Nations Development Programme, championing youth innovation, entrepreneurship and the sustainable development goals. As a musician, patoranking remains bold and street-rooted, a cultural guardian and global african voice, reflected in acclaim from tastemakers such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, CNN and Vogue, alongside major awards from the Headies, MTV Africa Music Awards and Afrima, and a streaming footprint that spans Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, North America and Latin America.
Watch the ‘african soldier’ music video here: https://youtu.be/32oj4CeydbY?si=OP–C2uMC5Uc5eao
Stream + download ‘african soldier’ here: https://orcd.co/patoranking_bujubanton_africansoldier
Connect with patoranking
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patorankingfire
X (twitter): https://www.x.com/patorankingfire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patorankingofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialpatorankingfire
Media & press
Please direct all media and press inquiries to:
Lara Martin — lara@wepluggoodmusic.com
Ayo Adepoju — ayodele@wepluggoodmusic.com
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