20 Afro Songs to Soundtrack your Revolution, Black Rage & #FTP Mood
UPCOMING EVENTS
Whether you be team peaceful protest, abi team policy change (#m4bl). Whether you be camp ‘phone your politicians’, or camp ‘hashtag activist’ (#blacklivesmatter). Maybe na the police be the issue (#FTP), or you just want us to ‘make art, not war’ (#artivist). You are a person who understands that things need to change, and your music need to KEEP. THAT. SAME. ENERGY!
20 songs (in no particular order) to create a dynamic soundscape while you furiously draft messages of dissent, go out into the streets, or blast a stereo from your porch to say FU to laws and mandates like curfews that only exacerbate already present injustices.
This list runs the gamut from throwback to present day… from LA to Jo-borg.
Oya! Let’s go:
20 Afro Urban Songs to Soundtrack your Revolution
"Equal Rights" Peter Tosh
I don't want no peace, // I man need equal rights and justice. // I've got to get it! Equal rights and justice. // I really need it! Equal rights and justice. // Just give me my share! Equal rights and justice. // What is due to Caesar // You better give it on to Caesar.// And what belong to I and I // You better, you better, give it up to I.
"Revolution" E-dee (Ft. Irie Love)
What goes up, Must Come Down
"Burnin and Lootin" Bob Marley
This morning I woke up in a curfew // O God, I was a prisoner, too - yeah! // Could not recognize the faces standing over me // They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. (Ay!) // How many rivers do we have to cross//Before we can talk to the boss? (Yeah!) // All that we got, it seems we have lost // We must have really paid the cost
“Not Yet Uhuru” Letta Mbulu
Bakhona abany'abakithi // Abasibona sesikhululekile (sesikhululekile) // Kodwa umshosha phansi // Uthi not yet uhuru (Not yet uhuru)
"Soul Is Heavy" Nneka
I am, the voice of Isaac Boro // I speak Ken Saro Wiwa // I am, the spirit of Jaja of Opobo // Fight for right, for our freedom // You? A power hungry class of army arrangements // Stealing money in my country’s plight // A soldier pretending to be a politician
The Original Version of Nkosi sikelel' Afrika
Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika // Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, // Yizwa imithandazo yethu, // Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo
“Ndodemnyama Beware, Verwoerd!” Miriam Makeba
Pasopa Nantsi ndodemnyama, Verwoerd!
"My Own Eyes" Mavis Staples
I was just a little girl // Travelling with my pops // Thrown in jail for nothing // By some southern racist cops // Reverend Martin told us // What needed to be done//And if he can preach it // We can sing it // Help you make the new day come.
"Huni" Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
usatambe nevanhu, vanhu vacha kupandukira // puda pachena
"Talkin' Bout a Revolution" Tracy Chapman
Don't you know // They're talkin' 'bout a revolution // It sounds like a whisper // Poor people gonna rise up // And get their share // Poor people gonna rise up // And take what's theirs // Don't you know // You better run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
"Fuck Tha Police" N.W.A.
Lights start flashin behind me // But they're scared of a nigga so they mace me to blind me // But that shit don't work, I just laugh // Because it gives em a hint not to step in my path // To the police I'm sayin fuck you punk // Readin my rights and shit, it's all junk // Pullin out a silly club, so you stand // With a fake assed badge and a gun in your hand.
"Hell You Talmbout" Janelle Monae
Miriam Carey, say her name // Miriam Carey, say her name // Miriam Carey, say her name // Sharonda Sin
"This Is Nigeria" Falz
This is Nigeria//Works in my area//This is democracy//Political hysteria//Yahoo Yahoo don tear everywhere now, we act like its so cool, Casting the P, i'm being castigated just by trying to noble.
"Black Rage" Lauryn Hill
Black rage is founded on blatant denial // Squeezed economics, subsistence survival // Deafening silence and social control // Black rage is founded on wounds in the soul.
"Beast of No Nation" Fela Kuti
And, they wan dash us human rights// Animal must talk to human beings//Give dem human rights//I beg-I oh, make you hear me well-u well//I beg-I oh, make you hear me very well//Human rights na my property//So therefore, you can't dash me my property//Human rights na my property//Dey wan dash us human rights
"Putting up Resistance" Beres Hammond
No I never can understand it//The way the system plan//There's no hope, no chance, no loophole//No escape for a suffering man//'Cause every time I lift my head above water//And try to save myself from drown//There's an overnight scheme all worked out//Designed to keep ah me down, still I'm//Putting up a resistance//I'm ah gonna work it out.
“Nothing To Lose” K'naan (ft. Nas)
I’m voicing my opinions//I forgot y’all was there//I ain’t know y’all was still listenin’//Be honest I ain’t care//Y’all don’t get my innuendos my interests//Y’all on some simple shit//Thinking I’m preachy//Yeah my church is the world//Christians sip a cup of this holy water//Stuck at this phony border//It’s custom to enter the main stream//You must front and record.
"Thandiswa Mazwai ( Belede)" Jikijela
Jikijela ngamatye // Sobayashaya ngamatye // Nkomo zoze zibuye
"Collateral Damage" Burna Boy
My people serve they fear too much//We fear the thing we no see//One day all of us go die//We always get reason to fear//Fight for your right o you go to fear//Police go slap you, you go to fear//Fight for your pikin dem no go to fear//You go to fear fear fear.
NOW THAT YOU’VE CHECKED OUT OUR LIST.
What is some of your go-to protest music?
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