From the dawn of humanity, the story of paradise lost and found has shaped our imagination. With his new Swahili album Kisiwani — meaning “Island Life” — Ali Hugo invites listeners on a sonic voyage where Swahili soul collides with the heartbeat of the Caribbean.
For Hugo, the vision of Kisiwani was born in childhood. “I remember staying up late with my aunt to watch The Blue Lagoon,” he recalls. “That was the moment the idea of ‘island life’ embedded itself in my mind.” Later, Toronto’s legendary Caribana Festival exposed him to the rhythms of the Caribbean. “Caribana was magic — I got to see groups like Third World perform for free at Nathan Phillips Square. Those experiences live inside this album.”
The timing of Kisiwani comes after two pivotal missed opportunities. First, a chance encounter with a gifted West Indies art dealer — who, despite Hugo’s best Harry Belafonte-style persuasion, refused to become his manager. And second, a once-in-a-lifetime $500 travel package to Cuba, derailed when Hugo’s companion refused to fly — transforming paradise into a Montreal train ride instead.
Belief Records leaned into this theme of longing and nostalgia, choosing to release Kisiwani at summer’s end — the season when travelers return home still carrying the warmth of distant shores.
And though the album is in Swahili, language is no barrier. Hugo’s earlier project Afrodisiac proved that his sound transcends borders. This time, he enriches the journey with tablas, Patwa, and Spanish verses — blending cultures into a vibrant, borderless soundscape.
Already trending across social media, Kisiwani is out now on all streaming platforms and music retailers. Step into the rhythm of island life — and rediscover paradise.