Takana Zion is an exhilarating new talent coming out of Guinea in West Africa, a former French colony (thus explaining his association with France's Makafresh label) whose tribulations have fed his dedication to Ratafarianism and reggae. Although only 21 years old, he nonetheless delivers the stunning Zion Prophet with a weight and sophistication beyond his years. He displays an impressive range of vocals in French, English, and African dialects, both singing and chatting with a dexterity similar to the multi-talented Turbulence. Zion Prophet is about 90% roots with a smidgen of dancehall ("I Tan Didi") and even an old-timey blues/Southern soul tune ("Sweet Words," which showcases the sing-jay's vivacious singing chops) that hints at the creativity and freshness that emanates from the album (see also the near-operatic chorus on the title track). This is music that makes you stand up and take notice, a vibrant wake-up call that brightens your mood and colors everything around you. The rich, funky roots of tracks like "Ematoba," "Conakry" (his home town), "Jah Moves With Me," "Des Millions de Morts," and "La Voie de Mount Zion" cannot help but strike you to your very core. With nary a weak track to be found, Zion Prophet is certainly in the running for best reggae album of 2007 and is on par with the greats of the genre.