ISAIAH HULL Releases New Single 'A IS FOR AFRICA'
Isaiah Hull, the self-proclaimed "stand up tragedian" from Old Trafford, Manchester, today releases ' A IS FOR AFRICA '. A collaboration with producer Kwes Darko, 'A IS FOR AFRICA' is a powerful lyrical and sonic statement that defines the politics Isaiah stands for and stands on, adding to the rich lineage of alphabetic play in hip hop. The track is released to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Una Marson, the Jamaican feminist activist and writer who was the first Black woman to work for the BBC.
'A IS FOR AFRICA' is available only as a stunning, monochrome music video, directed by Isaiah with creative direction from Akira-Kai Kitazono and Josh Renaut. The performance - frantic, agitated, visceral – further establishes Isaiah Hull as a singular, visionary talent. It ushers in a formidable sonic partnership with Darko, with the pair exploring what mania sounds like in today's Black Briton.
Speaking about 'A IS FOR AFRICA', Isaiah says: "I want you to show A is for Africa to anyone who asks you about me, asks how he's doing or where he's been. This song isn't hiding or shy, it doesn't need a degree to understand, we made it and laughed, it is for the children"
'A IS FOR AFRICA' is Isaiah Hull's debut release on new label home Young (Sampha, FKA twigs, The xx, Kamasi Washington and more). It marks the latest chapter in the career of an artist who's already left an indelible impression on UK culture, whether opening for Skepta with a poem at Radio 1's Big Weekend, presenting a TEDx talk as a 19 year old, supporting the likes of Kae Tempest and Saul Williams as a poet, or a series of acclaimed releases and collaborations with the influential London-based gesamtkunstwerk life is beautiful, most recently with 2024's t he d esir e d efec t.
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And to the panel judging te reo Māori entries: Convenor Mat Tait (Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Kuia), a freelance artist, illustrator, writer and te reo Māori tutor based in the Motueka area; Justice-Manawanui Arahanga-Pryor (Ngāti Awa ki Rangitaiki, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki), a kaitakawaenga / library programming specialist; and Maxine Hemi (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne), a kaiako with over 30 years' experience teaching. And praise be for those who make the awards possible: Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, the Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, Wellington City Council, BookHub presented by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa, the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, the Mātātuhi Foundation, and NielsenIQ BookData. The Awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa.
