Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Kingdom of Love by RAS BANAMUNGU& The Det-n-ators International
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
Navigating the serpentine alleyways of modern music, Ras Banamungu & The Det-N-ators launch Kingdom of Love into the ether, a missive not just from the heart but from the soul of the globe itself. Here’s a track that doesn’t just walk the line between the ancestral thump of African rhythms and the neon pulse of reggaeton—it dances merrily across it, trailing a cape of vibrant soundscapes in its wake. ‘With lines such as ‘Gotcha queen, inna di reggae scene, our love so strong, like a rhythm machine,’ Ras Banamungu encapsulates not just a night of revelry but a cosmic dance of unity, spinning from the core of his Rwandan roots through the sprawling diaspora of sound that music, in its infinite jest, allows.
The track is a testament to Ras Banamungu’s craft, where laughter is not just an afterthought but the very heartbeat of percussion, creating a sound so infectious, it could turn a sceptic into a believer on the spot. But let’s not fool ourselves; Ras is a multi-faceted musician, transmuting the base metals of sound into celebratory reverberation, blending laughter therapy with traditional drumming to forge a new path, a laughter-laden road less travelled in the world of music therapy. Kingdom of Love is a kind of expedition, inviting us to embark on a journey of healing and connection, proving once again that music—and laughter—holds the power to transcend barriers, whether they be of language, culture, or the heart.
On this smoothly produced offering, Ras Banamungu reaffirms his status not just as a musician but as sonic storyteller, weaving threads of reggae, African tradition, and reggaeton into a rich tapestry. Ras Banamungu & The Det-N-ators, with this track, do not merely contribute to the conversation of music; they elevate it, crafting an ode to the enduring power of love and laughter that resonates proportionately.
