Belgian musician and producer Marc “MacLes” Leys, who was highly active in the music industry between 2012 and 2020, has been noticeably less engaged in recent years. While his 2013 project Puff Puff Riddim featured collaborations with esteemed artists such as Cutty Ranks, Gappy Ranks, and Iba Mahr, his primary focus was on working with emerging and relatively unknown reggae singers and deejays. This commitment resulted in the production of several studio albums, including Timmi Burrell’s A Small Town Boy, D-Prezzy’s Black Diamond, and No Can Do by Promise No Promises.
MacLes’ latest project, Tazama Mashariki (meaning “Look to the East”), is a collaboration with the acclaimed Tanzania-based band Warriors From The East, an eight-time award-winning ensemble. The band has received numerous accolades, including Best Reggae Act at the Tanzania Music Awards (2023 and 2024), two Kilimanjaro Music Awards (2012 and 2014), and four Kukaye Moto Awards for Best Reggae Band in Tanzania. Additionally, they earned a nomination for Best African Reggae Group at the Ghana Reggae and Dancehall Awards.
Drawing inspiration from the musical traditions of the Maasai, Luo, and other communities along the River Nile, Warriors From The East incorporates traditional African instruments such as the Adungu (Uganda), Nyatiti (Kenya), Marimba (Tanzania), and Krar (Ethiopia). These elements are seamlessly blended with electric guitars, saxophones, trumpets, and drum sets to create a distinctive fusion of ancient African melodies with reggae, dancehall, blues, jazz, and rock. A sound the band defines as Nile Blues.
The music and lyrics unmistakably reflect the strong influence of Bob Marley and Jamaican reggae and dancehall. Alongside the previously released singles, Freedom Of Palestine and Bongo Reggae, this collection introduces eight powerfully delivered songs. Three of these tracks are collaborative efforts with Tuungana Pamojah and Tazama Mashariki featuring sections sung in the band’s native language and English by featured guest artists Promise No Promises, Sydney Salmon (aka Jah Syd), and Uwe Banton. Those familiar with the production work of MacLes will certainly recognise a few previously used riddims like those in Nefertiti and Freedom Of Palestine. The strongest moments of the album unfold early, with Warrior Music, She Is Fire, and Nefertiti making the biggest impact, though the rest are equally noteworthy.