Nairobi News

Gilad is back with a beautifully delivered jam and this time has enlisted the services of an American Grammy Award winner.

The former Israeli Diplomat turned Kenyan pop star was enthusiastic and humbled by the high-profile collaboration saying he hoped to showcase the beauty of the Swahili language and African culture which he has come to love to the world through Ms Ben-Ari’s unique sound.

Ben-Ari, who has collaborated with artists such as Kanye West, Jay Z and Alicia Keys among many others, has teamed up with long-time friend to create Say Nanana a Swahili love song written by Gilad and produced by the American superstar herself.

Gilad’s strong soulful voice is delivered perfectly; blending both English and Swahili over a hauntingly beautiful violin serving a smooth love song, which has all the hallmarks of an award winning track.

For her part, Ben Ari says the song is a fusion of African sounds with strings of love terming it a “feel good song that will be sung by many”.

The song, which was a collaborative effort, over a period of six months, and produced online between New York and Nairobi, was released on May 2, 2017 to a very warm reception.

Ben-Ari, who has never been to Africa, plans to visit Kenya in the near future for a special live performance and to shoot the music video for the song using Kenya as a backdrop.

The Grammy Award winner joins a list of internationally acclaimed artists among them Michael Jackson, who have been mesmerized by the beauty of the Swahili language and have embraced it in their music.

“Working with Miri has been a privilege and an education at so many levels” says Gilad

He added, “Most importantly it is my hope that the song helps to expose the beauty of the Swahili language and African culture that I have come to love, to more of the world through Miri’s unique sound.”

The song fuses the sound of Africa with strings of love, it’s a feel-good song that I believe will be sung by many!” says Miri Ben-Ari.

Listen to the song here: