‘Opena’ keeps Tate Buti on top

KWIKU superstar Tate Buti’s 19-track album has maintained his position as one of Namibia’s greatest mainstream musicians

‘Opena’, which is his 14th studio album, will have you on your feet from the first straight to the last track with songs that are what we are used to from Tate Buti plus a little extra sauce.

With the amount of work that has obviously gone into the album – both creatively and production wise – it’s no wonder that it’s already doing so well and has been receiving raving reviews from listeners.

Tate Buti continues to blend kwiku, kwassa kwassa, soukous and original Namibian sounds to compile music that transcends tribal, racial, age and gender barriers.

Additionally, he effortlessly infuses his humour lyrically, while also adding his signature dose of sexual innuendos, so make sure that you don’t play of the songs around underage children, especially if you don’t want to answer some tough questions about the lyrics.

While the list keeps changing, personal favourites of the album are tracks one ‘Eeno Mboli’, track three ‘Opena’, track nine ‘No Beer’ as well as track 10 ‘Baby No 1’, which features Hishishi Papa.

Another great collaboration on the album is track 13 which features Top Cheri and Kamati.

Tate Buti has also featured other Namibian music giants such as Mushe, Nakale, Exit, Sunny Boy and 4×4 Too Much Power. South African DJ Style also features on track 18 titled ‘Kasi Life’ which is a wonderful collaboration that has taken Tate Buti out of his comfort zone by spitting some bars.

On track 15, Tate Buti teams up with Young T to spread a very important message about illegal electricity connections which are rife in informal settlements and are a dangerous and deadly hazard. The song is a positive addition to the album, tackling an issue that often doesn’t receive as much attention as it should.

‘Opena’ was mastered and produced by Solani Glo and as a whole is an indication of the continued growth showed by Tate Buti who is always evolving – even when you think he can’t possibly get any better.

The type of features on the album are promising and are an indication that the musician is willing to explore new sounds and work with those who not only complement his style but allow him to switch things up a bit.