Gemini Major and Patoranking team up on Bang Bang

The Southern Africa-Nigeria collaborations have never really caught on—not in the way the Nigeria-Ghana one has. Not long ago South Africa's Mafikizolo featured Davido and May D on two different songs. Both fell short of the group's hit ‘Khona’ and, frankly, made the band look too desperate for a crossover hit. More recently, Mi Casa put Yemi Alade on a song. I won’t be surprised if you haven’t heard it.

Last year, Cassper Nyovest and Wizkid, possibly the two biggest acts from both countries, made a song that came and disappeared. Runtown and K.O made a decent song, but not many in Nigeria heard the song. Perhaps the most popular of these South-West collaborations was Wizkid and DJ Maphorisa’s 'Soweto Baby'. Is the solution then to include a producer in the line-up?

No matter. Gemini Major, who left Cassper Nyovest's Family Tree record label last year, is both producer and singer, but it is unlikely that 'Bang Bang' changes the largely unfortunate state of these collaborations. The trap feel of the production with its dancehall elements means both artists get a chance to shine, but the result doesn't quite measure up to the solo work of each artist. Nonetheless, mostly because of its chorus, 'Bang Bang' might have a place in a few darkened Jo'burg clubs.

But whatever success 'Bang Bang' finds, it is doomed to be one-sided as there is no chance of the song finding a major audience in Lagos. One could put the blame on the single's unimaginative beat, but a more banal reason seals the song's fate: No one really knows Gemini Major in Nigeria. It would take a true banger—and not just naming a song 'Bang Bang'—to change that.