Distinctive synth-kissed composition is combined with addicting afrobeat rhythms and a certain degree of vocal identification to bring you “Siiri ta Gelbi” by Sudanese musician Sweet J, a fashionably recognized track with a strong sense of identity.
Sweet J, also known as Mbaraza Joy Enosa Baburu, is a South Sudanese singer and composer. She hails from South Sudan and is renowned as the “Queen of Azande Music.” She is a Zande by tribe from Yambio’s Gbudue state, and she grew up in a singing household. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work and social administration in Kampala, Uganda.
Her affection for music began as a child in the church, where she worked as a Sunday school teacher, and she launched a professional career in 2007. Sweet J has performed in major South Sudanese cities such as Yambio, Tambura, Juba, and Kampala, Uganda. She performs Zuku and traditional South Sudanese music in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Her song encourages national unity, gender-based violence, and the eradication of child marriage in her country.
Incorporating appealing riffs, engaging rhythms, horn sections, and hand drumming, along with catchy melodies, emotional deliveries, and confident voices, this latest single offers a refreshing contrast to the mainstream offerings of recent years.
Rather than overwhelming audiences with the brightness and excessive bounce that afrobeat and dancehall are known for, this piece maintains a modest level of sincerity throughout – even the songwriting tackles an encouraging topic while trying to download through simple, creative observations that instantly suit the music’s feeling.
“Siiri ta Gelbi” has a timeless feel to it, and there are several reasons why it has caused such a stir online. Those nostalgic sentiments add a flavor of reggae, blending pop-like melodies with dancehall brightness and bounce.
However, there is a distinct sense of sharp and precise modernity with this — the song seems new, thrilling in that way, and the hook is so quickly identifiable that it’s easy to walk away with and indeed know the next time around.