Kimbalagala - Swordman Kitala’s highly anticipated debut EP and the first since his comeback from a life changing illness.
At the end of 2019, shortly after he was being lauded everywhere following his debut release on Blip Discs, Frank Amanya (aka Swordman Kitala) suffered a serious stroke at just 27 years old. The timing couldn’t have been any more unfortunate - Amanya had just finished recording his debut EP weeks before his illness.
In an amazing display of Bandcamp solidarity, a remix single (with contributions from O’Flynn, Ekhe and K-Lone) did the rounds to raise funds for Amanya's physical therapy to resounding success and compassion from the wider music community.
The Kimbalagala EP is Amanya's most complete work to date. The A side compromises two completely uncut vocal performances of Swordman Kitala’s. Tom Blip presents a minimal dancehall thumper on Kimbalagala, with vocals rapped entirely in Luganda by Swordman with fellow Hakuna Kulala crew member Biga Yut on backing vocal duties. Hotly-tipped producer K-Lone, (fresh off the success of his debut album) delivers a UK funky styled beat for the second track, Malanga Ja.
On the B side, returning to the label for the first time since his explosive debut singles set Blip Discs off, we have O’Flynn cutting up a wealth of Swordman’s vocals over a murky, electro beat for Heat Flexxx (in tandem with Aphex Twin approved newcomer Ekhe). To round the release off, pq remixes (or rewonks) Kimbalagala into a rude chugger.