This site serves 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 the songs.

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Session 1: 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: 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: Measuring and defining political violence

• "La Paix" by Toussy (Burkina Faso)​

Session 4: Civil war

• "Guerre Civile" by Alpha Blondy (Côte d'Ivoire)
• Lyrics

Session 6: Genocide

• "Nanga abahutu" by Bikindi Simon (Rwanda)
• Killer Songs, New York Times, 2002

Session 7: Electoral and state-led violence

• "Bullet or ballot" by Bobi Wine (Uganda)

Session 9: 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 10: 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 11: Resources

• "Capture" by Baloji (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Baloji: Capture, Nowness, 2015

Session 12: Climate change

• Ténéré by Bombino (Niger)
• Bombino: High-Energy Sounds From 'Agadez,' Niger, NPR, 2011
• First Listen: Bombino, 'Nomad', NPR, 2013

Session 13: Armed movements

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

Session 14: Mercenaries and violence as work​

• "Zombie" by Fela Kuti (Nigeria)
• Lyrics
• The Story of Fela Kuti 'Gentleman' and 'Zombie', Classic Album Sundays

Session 15: 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: Governing amid violence II

• "20 10 20" by Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy Addresses Police Brutality in Nigeria on New Song, Pitchfork, 2020

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Session 18: 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: Civilian strategies and humanitarian aid

• "Tombouctou" by Inna Modja (Mali)
• 🚨 WARNING: this video contains nudity. If you wish to avoid, listen without watching the video.

Session 22: To intervene or not?

• "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 23: 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 24: Justice and peace

• "Hague bound" by Muigai Wa Njorogethe (Kenya)
• Kenya Musicians Charged with Hate Speech, BBC, 2012
• Lyrics

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Photo: Ramena, Madagascar