JUSTINE M. DAVIS
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Political Violence in Africa:
​Music from the Continent

This site will serve as a repository of songs about political violence in Africa.  We will spend ten minutes or so of class listening and discussing the music and how it relates to that session's readings and topic. Most of the music videos depict violence, but I will flag any that are particularly graphic.

​If you have songs to recommend, please let me know via email! 

​Here is a YouTube playlist with 22/24 songs (songs from session 10 (Soundcloud) and 14 (too long) are not included).

​
Session 1 ( January 19, 2021): Course Introduction
  • "Letter to the West" by A Plus (Ghana) 
  • 🚨 WARNING: this video contains graphic images (pictures of dead or injured people). If you wish to avoid, listen without watching the video

Session 2 ( January 21, 2021): Common narratives of violence in Africa
  • "This is Nigeria" by Falz (Nigeria)
  • Lyrics
  • A Guide to Rapper Falz's Cover of Childish Gambino's "This is America" NPR, 2018

Session 3 ( January 26, 2021): Measuring and defining political violence
  • "La Paix" by Toussy (Burkina Faso)​

Session 4 ( January 28, 2021): Civil war
  • "Guerre Civile" by Alpha Blondy (Côte d'Ivoire)
  • Lyrics

Session 5 (February 2, 2021): Genocide
  • "Nanga abahutu" by Bikindi Simon (Rwanda)
  • Killer Songs, New York Times, 2002

Session 6 (February 4, 2021): Electoral and state-led violence
  • "Bullet or ballot" by Bobi Wine (Uganda)
  • Coverage of Bobi Wine's campaign by BBC (updated frequently)

Session 7 (February 9, 2021): Coups and terrorism
  • "Altchalkoum" by ​ Tlahoun Gessesse (Ethiopia)
  • Lyrics and context: 
"Here, for instance, is “Altchalkoum” (Can’t Stand Any More), created by Tlahoun Gessesse on the eve of an abortive coup against Haile Selassie (it was performed by him with the backing of The Imperial Bodyguard Band, implicated in the coup attempt). Fooling nobody, it was quickly banned – and was banned again by Mengistu:
How long are you going to make me suffer?
I can’t take any more, I’ve had enough.
I’m up to here with it,
I’m more than up to here.
I can’t take any more,
How can I put up with it?
I can’t put up with your torments
I don’t know what more I can do." From Songlines, 2018

Session 8 (February 11, 2021): Identity I
  • "Cold" by Olgha Nkweti (Cameroon)
  • A Review of Sultry Singer Olgha NK's "Cold" video, The HotJem, 2019
  • Divided by Language, Washington Post, 2019 (Overview of the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon)

Session 9 (February 16, 2021): Identity II
  • "One Africa" by Idylle Mamba (Central African Republic) and Youssou N'Dour (Senegal)
  • Musicians Tell Central African Republic It's Time for Peace, NPR, 2014
  • Can Musicians Contribute to Peace in Africa? Institute for Security Studies, 2014​​

Session 10 (February 18, 2021): Collapsed states and repression
  • ديشاك- حبيبي تعال ثورية (Sudan)
    • Translation: "Come darling, revolutionary" 
  • How the People of Sudan Pulled off an Improbable Revolution, The Conversation, 2020

Session 11 (February 23, 2021): Resources
  • "Capture" by Baloji (Democratic Republic of Congo)
  • Baloji: Capture, Nowness, 2015

Session 12 (February 25, 2021): Climate change
  • Ténéré by Bombino (Niger)
  • Bombino: High-Energy Sounds From 'Agadez,' Niger, NPR, 2011
  • First Listen: Bombino, 'Nomad', NPR, 2013

Session 13 (March 2, 2021): Internationalization and democratization
  • "Francafrique" by Tiken Jah Fakoly (Côte d'Ivoire/Mali)
  • Lyrics

Session 14 (March 4, 2021): Armed movements
  • "O Aviao Presidencial Foi Car Em Mbuzini" by unknown artists (Mozambique) [This particular song starts at 4:54]
    • Translation: "The Presidents Plane Crashed In Mbuzini"
  • ​Samora Machel Remembered 32 Years after his Death, New Frame, 2018

Session 15 (March 9, 2021): Mercenaries and violence as work​
  • "Zombie" by Fela Kuti (Nigeria)
  • Lyrics
  • The Story of Fela Kuti 'Gentleman' and 'Zombie', Classic Album Sundays

Session 16 (March 11, 2021): Terrorists and insurgents
  • "An ka wili" by Tiken Jah Fakoly (Côte d'Ivoire/Mali)
    • Translation: "Mobilization and Galvanization"
  • Lyrics (translated) and discussion, Bridges from Bamako, 2013

Session 17 (March 16, 2021): Governing amid violence
  • "20 10 20" by Burna Boy (Nigeria)
  • Burna Boy Addresses Police Brutality in Nigeria on New Song, Pitchfork, 2020
​
Session 18 (March 18, 2021): Tactics of violence
  • "War Child" by Emmanuel Jal (South Sudan)
  • Lyrics
  • How this ex Sudanese child soldier was inspired by P. Diddy to become a successful hip-hop artist, CNBC, 2018

Session 19 (March 25, 2021): Civilian strategies and humanitarian aid
  • "Tombouctou" by Inna Modja (Mali)

Session 22 (April 6, 2021): To intervene or not?
  • "Milomala" by Dehab Faytinga (Eritrea)
  • Faytinga's official website

Session 23 (April 8, 2021): Peacekeeping and international intervention
  • "Sabanoh" by Janka Nabay (Sierra Leone)
    • Translation: "This country belongs to us"​
  • “We Listened to it Because of the Message”: Juvenile RUF Combatants and the Role of Music in the Sierra Leone Civil War, Nuxoll, Cornelia, 2015 

Session 24 (April 13, 2021): Recurrence and prevention
  • "Kazukuta Dança" by  Virgilio Fire (Angola)
  • Anatomy of Kuduro: Articulating the Angolan Body Politic after the War, Moorman, Marissa. 2014
  • 'Kuduro,' The Dance That Keeps Angola Going, NPR, 2012

Session 25 (April 15, 2021): State-building and democratization​
  • "Tushangilie Kenya" by  Moses Wesonga (Kenya)
    • Lyrics and translation: Tuishangilie Kenya ( Let us celebrate Kenya) Taifa Letu Tukufu ( Our Great Country) Kenya tunayoipenda, Daimaaaa ( The Kenya we love so dear, always) Nauikipenda Kenya ( If you love Kenya) ujitenge na mambo ( Separate yourself) yenye kuvunja amani, Daimaaa.... ( from issues that breach peace, always) Kenya Kipenzi chetu, hatutaicha milele daima*2 Mimi ni mwanakenya Daima

Session 26 (April 20, 2021): Justice and peace
  • "Hague bound" by Muigai Wa Njorogethe (Kenya)
  • Kenya Musicians Charged with Hate Speech, BBC, 2012

Photo: Ramena, Madagascar
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