Exclusive: PJ Morton Premieres New Music Video From 'Cape Town to Cairo'

At this point it’s a well-known trope, but there’s no denying the profound effect that comes with artists—Black artists especially—visiting Africa for the first time. For a month, New Orleans-raised, multiple time Grammy-winning artist PJ Morton traveled across four African countries, resulting in a transformative trip.

In South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt, Morton immersed himself in diverse cultures and communities, listening to stories and sounds, and distilling his experiences and reshaped perspectives into his upcoming album, Cape Town to Cairo. Created spontaneously, the project involved collaborations with multiple African artists and producers, including Nigerian singers Fireboy DML and Asa, Afrobeat scion Màdè Kuti, and South African jazz trumpeter Ndabo Zulu.

Ahead of the album’s June 14 release date, Morton released two singles in the last two months, starting with the March drop “Please Be Good,” a breezy, romance-themed bop helmed by Nigerian producer P.Priime. Last month’s follow-up was “Simunye (We Are One),” an acoustic piano song with a positive message imploring global togetherness. It features vocal harmonies by Soweto Spiritual Singers.

Premiering on OkayAfrica today is the music video for “Smoke and Mirrors,” the third single and intro song from Cape Town to Cairo. Bridging the bayous of Louisiana with the lakes and water bodies of Ghana, “Smoke and Mirrors” is a declaration of clarity and renewed self-belief.

“They say do what I say, not as I do/They so terrified you might find what really resides inside of you,” Morton sings with a striking urgency, over a strident groove that fuses Ghanaian highlife and the trumpets of New Orleans marching band music. In its accompanying, horn players surround Morton as he performs in a car workshop, while a young man drives and revs a sports car as a symbol of feeling more alive than ever.

“I’ve been told so many things about Africa. Seeing for myself broke many of those narratives that I was told. I realized that perceptions usually depend on who is telling the story,” Morton says of the new single. “This song is also inspired by my journey through the music industry.”

Watch the video for “Smoke and Mirrors” here.