Africa
is the second largest continent in the world with a population of
1.0billion people and a total number of 54 sovereign states “countries”.
Is it me or is Hip hop not playing a major role in terms of bridging
gaps between all the geo-political zones in the continent.
Hence,
giving birth to what I call the “United States of Africa“. As I write
this article, I am seated at a windy balcony listening to “All In” by
Camp Mulla featuring Manifest and “African & Proud” by Banky W
featuring L-Tido, Camp Mulla, Vector and Sarkodie.
For
me, it spells out one thing and that’s ‘Unity’. I am glad to see a lot
of cross-border collaborations within the continent. If you have been a
long time follower of my music, you will recall that I released a song
with a similar concept, titled ‘Raw African Poetry’ which featured
various rappers from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya.
The
track was even mentioned in SA’s number one Hiphop magazine, HYPE. I am
presently working on a reloaded version of that song by the way. If
African artists keep chunning out collabs like that, perhaps someday you
might bump in to Nigerians in diaspora speaking Swahili eloquently and
also find Kenyans conversing in Pidgin. It is our duty to embrace and
nurture our different cultures.
Hip
hop shouldn’t be the only music genre saddled with the responsibility
of uniting Africa. What about Pop, Jazz, Reggae, RnB, Afrobeat or
Kwaito? Won’t it be awesome to hear Asa and Freshly Ground on one song?
Or imagine Femi Kuti teaming up with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I am sure
there is a newer generation of music lovers that crave a breath of fresh
air in the kind of songs they listen to. Apparently, the African music
industry is fast evolving and this is evident in the way most record
companies operate these days.
For
instance, Kenyan-based record label Taurus Musik has Zambia’s
award-winning group, Zone Fam, under its stable. To further illustrate
my point; Kenyan songstress, Victoria Kimani is signed to Chocolate City
Music (Nigeria). Distance is no longer a barrier, especially when
A&Rs are dealing with pure talents. Label executives now go all out!
So it is seemingly possible that I could get signed by Sony Music
Africa someday…’you never know!’ Late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikpolakpo
Kuti once said “Music is a weapon…”. Senegaleese singer Youssou N’Dour
knew he held this power in his hands and decided to organise a concert
for the release of Nelson Mandela in 1985. N’Dour also discovered Somali
rapper, K’Naan during a speaking engagement before the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees in 1999, where K’naan performed a spoken
word piece criticizing the UN for its failed aid missions to Somalia.
N’Dour’s goodwill was not only restricted to his home country, but was
felt in other parts of the continent.
He
believed in the ‘United States of Africa‘. I was interviewed on a radio
station in Malawi a while back, where I extensively talked about ‘Unity
in Africa’ and the need to produce more African Hip hop TV shows. The
media can serve as a catalyst in the process of bridging gaps. Don’t you
think it will be better if the next BET cypher in Africa features
different African rappers under one umbrella? Just a thought! The world
is looking at the motherland for inspiration. Viva Africa!
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