Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) and Paradise Sound System have announced Bantu Calling, the 2026 edition of Searching for Paradise, an annual music initiative that creates global opportunities for African artists through collaboration, cultural exchange, and cross-border creativity.
This year’s project is led by UK-based Nigerian – Ugandan artist, producer, and DJ, HARUNA, whose work explores the relationship between African musical heritage and contemporary electronic music. Rooted in the movement of African rhythms across borders and generations, his music sits at the intersection of African electronic traditions, contemporary club culture, and global collaboration.
Now in its latest edition, Searching for Paradise has become an annual creative outcome of Africa Rising Music Conference, bringing together artists from different backgrounds to create original works that celebrate African identity while opening pathways into international music ecosystems. Released through Paradise Sound System, the initiative serves as a platform for collaboration, artistic exchange, and building meaningful connections between African artists and the world.
At the centre of the project is Bantu Calling, the title track that gives the EP its name. Featuring vocals from South African singer Thuso Wa Sibini and additional contributions from South African producer DarkFace and guitarist Obe 380, the record serves as the creative anchor for the release, exploring themes of movement, identity, and connection through a contemporary electronic lens.
The four-track Bantu Calling EP presents the title track in three different forms: the original vocal version featuring Thuso Wa Sibini, an instrumental interpretation that foregrounds the production and rhythmic foundations of the record, and a remix by South African producer Mr. Norble Guy, who reimagines the track through his own sonic perspective.
Completing the project is Saturn Return, an original composition from Haruna that further explores the EP’s themes of reflection, transformation, and cultural exchange.
Drawing inspiration from South African House and 3-Step, and UK club culture, Bantu Calling celebrates the creative possibilities that emerge when artists collaborate across borders. More than simply a release, the project embodies the broader mission of Searching for Paradise and Africa Rising Music Conference: creating meaningful artistic exchanges and demonstrating how African artists and communities can connect with global creative networks through music.
“Searching for Paradise is about creating spaces for collaboration and allowing different musical experiences and influences to meet. Bantu Calling reflects that journey. It’s about connection, movement and celebrating the ways African music continues to evolve and inspire.”
– Haruna
Together, the four records form a cohesive body of work that celebrates African collaboration and demonstrates the creative possibilities that emerge when artists and ideas move across borders.
Released on Paradise Sound System, Bantu Calling stands as both a celebration of Africa’s rich musical heritage and a statement of its continued evolution and global influence.
