Checkmate for Harambe
Harambe, a song by African hip hop artiste Saba Saba and Jamaican deejay E-Dee, is featured on the soundtrack to the film, Queen of Katwe.
The single is co-produced by Sean ‘Due’ Lashley and American Jesse ‘Belief’ Shatkin. Lashly’s parents are Jamaican (he was born in New York and lived in Patrick City, Kingston, for several years). Shatkin is best known for producing Sia’s monster hit Chandelier.
“Harambe is featured on a ‘riddim’ we did in 2009 called Weapon. Beenie Man’s Woman was the only song on the project that we released on iTunes,” Lashley told the Jamaica Observer. “I’m excited about this. This is more than I could have ever imagined. I have another song featured in a film from Lions Gate that’s coming out soon.”
Songs by Tifa, singer Jimmy Cozier and Vybz Kartel are also on the Weapon.
Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and ESPN Films, Queen of Katwe is directed by Mira Nair with the screenplay by William Wheeler. It stars David Oyelowo, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga.
It is based on the life of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy who grew up in Katwe, one of that country’s poorest areas. She began competing at nine years-old and has since excelled in numerous international tournaments.
Queen of Katwe screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.