Africa Unite

Africa Unite is an Italian reggae band, active since 1981.

Career

The band was founded as Africa United in 1981 in Pinerolo by Vitale Bonino (born 1964) aka Bunna and Francesco Caudullo (born 1965) aka Madaski, on the occasion of a tribute concert for the recently deceased Bob Marley. In 1987, they made their recording debut with the self-produced album Mjekrari. In 1992, they adopted their current name, and started the hip hop side project To.sse. In 1993, they released their first work in Italian language, Babilonia e poesia. Their 1995 album Il sole che brucia marked their mainstream breakout, while their 1996 live album In diretta dal sole was their first work for a major (PolyGram). In the second half of the 1990s, Madaski launched a solo side project, while Bunna started collaboraing with Giuliano Palma & the Bluebeaters. After Vibra (2000), in 2003, they returned to self-produce their works.

Style

Ernesto Assante described Africa Unite's style as "a direct offshoot of 1980s British reggae, stemming from that blend of roots reggae and pop". Enrico De Regibus noted a clear and constant influence of Bob Marley, fused with "Mediterranean elements, and distinctly indigenous...

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