There is a new version of the track by Samba Mapangala, Obama Ubarikiwe, that I wrote about about a week ago available.

The new remix is a vocal version that has Jonal Buya Lutete on harmony vocals. Jonal was formerly with OK Jazz.

Here is the release notification.

10/10/08 – Samba Sings for Obama
New video and vocal remix — Free MP3 downloads

Samba Mapangala, East Africa’s most beloved singer, recognizing how much Africans love Barack Obama and how proud Kenyans are of Obama’s Presidential candidacy, has released a song in his honor: “Obama Ubarikiwe.”
The title translates as “Obama Be Blessed.” The new Swahili lyrics say: There’s a new leader in America. Let’s applaud him. We wish you long life. Do a good job for us. Viva Obama! The song continues: Obama, leadership is a gift from God, and you have it. Please help to bring peace, change and hope to all Americans and all the world. We love you!

The video features 14-year-old Kenyan rapper Fanaka Ndege and portrays how Obama’s candidacy brings people of different generations and backgrounds together. It was produced and directed by Jose Shalita and Robin Berry, assisted by George Ndege.
Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk3_7nQ4wiM

The original recording was made in Chicago in September at Delmark’s Riverside Studio and produced by Nathaniel Braddock of the Occidental Brothers and Old Town School of Folk Music. The vocal remix adds harmony vocals by Jonal Buya Lutete, formerly with OK Jazz.

Free MP3 downloads of the original song and remixes are available at http://drop.io/sambasingsforobama

Please circulate this music to everyone — the election is just 24 days away!
Musicians on the session were members of Virunga and the Occidental Brothers:
Siama Matuzungidi, Nathaniel Braddock, Jose Shalita, guitars
Rap written and performed by Fanaka Ndege
Voices: Samba Mapangala, Cheryl Kramer, Jose Shalita, D Boudreaux
Saxophone: Greg Ward
Trumpet: Marques Carrol
Bass: Ali Msafiri Mgawe
Drums: Paul Steuber
Percussion: D Boudreaux
Engineer: Eric Butkus

Samba Mapangala’s latest album, African Classics, was released in June 2008 by Sheer Sounds. For more information on Samba, go to www.myspace.com/sambamapangala

– CC Smith
Virunga Management

You can download both versions of the track at the links below

Samba Mapangala – Obama ubarikiwe ( Vocal Mix )

Samba Mapangala – Obama ubarikiwe

You can also find a complete mix tape of various tracks created by artists for Obama at drop.io. You can find these specific tracks at this link and the complete mix tape at this link.

You can also find a video of the original track with the rap by Fanaka Ndege on YouTube at this link.

In other unrelated news:

For those of you who may be deep house fans, I have to let you know that I just found out that Frankie Knuckles, one of the fathers of the sound, just had his foot amputated due to medical complications from a break that happened 10 years ago. A little more on the story at bodytonic.com

And, the boys over at deeper.co.za have done it again with another double-bad mix by guest DJ Niall – Deep Disco.

Go and give it a listen.

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