THE LONG WAY HOME

Chapter IV: Homecoming China, 2026 | Obi-Wan S.A.

The journey ends where it began.

Home.

But not with the same eyes.

There is something about travelling far from everything familiar that changes the way you see the world. And sometimes, more importantly, the way you see yourself.

When I left for China, I knew I was embarking on a journey. What I didn’t fully understand was how much of that journey would stay with me after returning.

Four chapters later, we arrive at Homecoming.

Not simply a return to where it all began, but an acceptance of everything experienced, discovered and carried along the way.

Coming full circle

Homecoming opens with China Charmeleon – Slave To The Feeling, setting the tone for a return to the warmth and familiarity of South African deep house.

From there, selections by Spin Worx, Pando G, ZuluMafia, Deep Essentials, Artwork Sounds and Dark Horse begin to tell a story of reconnection.

These are sounds that feel familiar. Grooves that remind me of where I come from and why this music has always been such an important part of my life.

But there’s something different about hearing familiar sounds after experiencing unfamiliar places.

You begin to appreciate them differently.

There is movement in this chapter. There is warmth, relief and nostalgia.

And underneath it all, a quiet sense of gratitude.

The meaning of coming home

As the mix moves towards its final stretch, the story begins to settle.

That Night → Got Your Number → Jamaican Bam Bam → Everything Happens For A Reason → F.E.A.R.

Five selections that bring the journey towards its conclusion.

For me, this is where The Long Way Home stops being about distance and starts becoming about understanding.

The places we visit leave something with us.

The people we encounter change our perspective.

The experiences we collect become part of the stories we carry home.

And sometimes, returning to the same place doesn’t necessarily mean returning as the same person.

Homecoming is about making peace with that change.

Four chapters. One journey.

What began as a musical reflection on my travels through China eventually became something more personal.

Chapter I — Departure: Leaving the familiar behind and stepping into the unknown.

Chapter II — The Mirror: Encountering new rhythms, experiences and perspectives.

Chapter III — Remembering: Looking inward and reconnecting with the memories and sounds that shaped me.

Chapter IV — Homecoming: Returning, accepting and understanding home differently.

Each chapter carries its own identity, but together they tell one story.

A journey through music, people and places.

The final reflection

Sometimes home is a place.

Sometimes it’s the people waiting for you.

Sometimes it’s a familiar record, a melody or a groove that takes you back to a particular moment.

And sometimes, you only truly understand what home means after you’ve spent time away from it.

I left home to see the world.

I came back understanding home differently.

This is The Long Way Home.

Four chapters. One journey.

And now, we’re home.

— Obi-Wan S.A.

Deeper. Soulful. Timeless.

© Obi-Wan S.A. 2026 — compilation, mix performance, original artwork and original Obi-Wan S.A. material only.

OBI-WAN S.A. — SELECTED GROOVES

Music is not what I do. It’s who I am.

https://obi-wan-s-a.kit.com