May 09 2008
African Music supporting Obama
“Yes We Can!”
That’s the motto, chant, or whatever you want to call it, of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
And a lot of Africans believe that “Yes, they can!” too … as it shows in songs created by the continent’s musicians.
“Yes, We Can” sounds the same in Luo as it does in English.
Here are some examples:
- Cameroonian ex-pat Fojeba, copied the Black Eyed Peas and splices excerpts from a speech over a Makossa rhythm:
- Here’s Ghana’s Blakk Rasta’s “Barak Obama Crunk,” the song mostly warns Obama to mind his safety, because there are racists out there:
- Kenya’s Tony Nyadundo song “Obama”
Oh, and not only is Barack Obama making it into Pan-African music … he’s infiltrating other parts of culture too:
The gap between America’s high-minded rhetoric and its historical, breathtaking insensitivity towards Africans and African-Americans has been a source of disenchantment for millions … Suffice it to say that John Kerry never had a beer named after him, whereas Obama is exalted in every hop and grain in Senator, a frothy and occasionally lethal substance sold cheaply in the slums of Nairobi. And John McCain, Hillary Clinton be damned. They’re already calling it President.
Hey… let’s see if I can post today!
I really enjoyed this post, mostly because I am an Obama supporter. His message really touches me for some reason, brings hope. I hope that he’ll be able to deliver come November.
Anyway, great job. I enjoyed listening to the different Obama-inspired messages. Keep up the great work on your blog. Very informative.
PS. And great layout!
Fires me up! I used to be a little worried about the whole “cult of personality” that was branching out of the Obama phenomenon but not so much anymore. It’s just interesting to see the different ways people are getting involved — mainly due to Obama. I don’t think John McCain could make the young guys in my barbershop debate about delegates or say something like, “Man, John Edwards was snappin’ yesterday.”
I disapproved the following comment:”Cameroonian ex-pat Fojeba, copied the Black Eyed Peas… ”
I (Fojeba)released my Obama song before “Yes we can”.Check the dates when those songs were published on youtube.One of my first versions was posted on january 28 2008.Yes we can was posted on febuary 02,2008.