Africa is NOT a Country | Ahmed Sirour

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Africa is NOT a Country

by Ahmed Sirour

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about

A song made to hopefully, ONCE AND FOR ALL, educate those who are not aware or clear that Africa is NOT a country but actually a CONTINENT consisting of 54 recognized sovereign nations/countries! With a long history of Western imperialism and colonialism that greatly damaged the progression and development of the continent over the past 500+ years, Africa, as a whole, is slowly but steadily climbing upward on the path to becoming a world power to be reckoned with, but people should look more into each individual country whose individual contributions make that possible. Within these countries you would see the vast array of cultures, thousands of languages/dialects, rich traditions, amazing biodiversities and abundant natural resources (of course), some of the brightest & innovative minds in the world, and much more that reveals the multi-faceted beauty of Africa that greatly contrasts the stereotypical and often intentionally demeaning depictions of the continent in mainstream media that grossly misinforms, miseducates, and often hides from the rest of the world about some of the many positives and progressiveness happening within the many nations of the Motherland.

This song can't cover all those aspects, but it can at least make people aware, on the most basic level, that Africa is NOT a country, is not a charitable aid photo opp destination to salve the conscience of the privileged whose countries have actually financially benefitted and flourished because of the exploitation of Africa's natural resources and human labor. Maybe just the knowledge of learning that these countries even exist might help break that cycle and compel some who hear this song to search deeper than the superficial surface and clearly see that Africa is humankind's past, its present, and most definitely its future!

Musically, I was inspired by a number of sources; though Fela Kuti/Tony Allen's Afrobeat is the main rhythmic vibe, it's infused with a soulful African-American energy that also may have shades of Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin influences in there as well...a Pan-African/Diaspora-type vibe! Also, I was very surprised that from my online searches using the song title, I found t-shirts, a book, blogs, and YouTube videos incorporating that phrase, but realized that there was actually NO SONG ABOUT THIS ANYWHERE...so it's possible I might be the first to make one using that specific title!

lyrics

“AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY”
by Ahmed Sirour

You’re ignorance is no excuse,
you have a map but don’t see.
(no, no)
It has 54 nations,
but many think it can’t be.
(no, no)
We’re in the 21st millennium,
so this is so silly.
(no, no)
Africa’s a continent,
it is not a country
(no, no)

AFRICA, FOREVER, SANKOFA, AFRICA!

Do they downplay Africa in our history?
(yes, yes)
If you erase Africa do you erase humanity?
(yes, yes)
Because of us is why there is even society.
(yes, yes)
We are the beginning and the ending you will see. (yes, yes)

AFRICA…FOREVER…SANKOFA…AFRICA!
 FOREVER…SANKOFA…AFRICA!

AFRICA…FOREVER…SANKOFA…AFRICA!

Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo
Cote D'Ivoire
Djibouti
Kemet or Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tomé and Principé
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
and Zimbabwe...

AFRICA…FOREVER…SANKOFA…AFRICA!

AFRICA…FOREVER…SANKOFA…AFRICA!

credits

released October 8, 2021
All music composed/produced/recorded/played, vocal arrangement/vocals performed, and lyrics written by Ahmed Sirour

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Ahmed Sirour

Completely self-taught, plant-based bohemian, tobacco/alcohol/drug-free artist, unapologetically Black/undeniably Afrikan, much more than just remixes, religiously-allergic/spiritually-infused creative, Sankofa devotee, soothing sound healer, love propagator/hate hater, world citizen/son of Brooklyn, child of the late 1900s but innovator of the early 21st century!

Now, go explore my art... ... more

ahmedsirour.com

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