What The African References Mean In Migos Ft Drake - Versace African Remix

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents comments about the lyrics of Migos Ft Drake's 2013 African remix of their hit song "Versace".

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers and performers of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOCALISTS
"Migos are an American hip hop group from Gwinnett County, Georgia...….They are best known for their 2013 single "Versace"….went viral[7] and peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] It also inspired rapper Drake to join for the official remix."...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migos

"[Drake] is a Canadian recording artist, rapper, songwriter, and actor....Drake has sold over 5 million albums worldwide.[5] His work has earned him a Grammy Award, three Juno Awards, six BET Awards, and set several significant Billboard records. With twelve number-one singles, Drake has more than any other artist on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart"...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_(rapper)

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SUMMARY STATEMENT ABOUT "VERSACE AFRICA REMIX"
http://www.spin.com/articles/migos-versace-video-donatella-drake/ describes Migos' hit song "Versace" as a gleefully monotonous fashion-shout-out track" in which the rappers brag about their expensive Versace clothing and jewelry. The African remix to that song substitutes the word "dashiki" for the "Versace", includes shout outs to several notable Africans, and other African references. In my opinion, the substitution of dashikis for Versace doesn't work since dashikis have never been viewed as luxury clothing. And the types of fake African print dashikis that the rappers wear in the African remix video are particularly viewed with derision by afro-centric African Americans.

That said, some traditional Yoruba (Nigeria) dansiki which served as the model for the African American originated dashiki are made out of silk, or brocade, or lace, or some authentic African fabrics and therefore can be quite expensive. Had Migos worn a silk or lace three piece African agbadas (robe), dansiki (undershirt/tunic) and sokotos (pants) such as those shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeTD2xyfMuA "Best Of Nigerian Fashion "natives" along with the jewelry worn by people photographed in that collage, they would have had much more credibility extolling the expensive nature of African fashion.

Unlike the original song "Versace" (and the remix of that song featuring Drake), the African remix includes no profanity and no "n words" - which is a plus for me. I'm aware that this remix is meant to be lighthearted fun, but I'm using it as a way of sharing information about African culture.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Migos Ft Drake Versace AFRICAN REMIX



TreandIce production, Published on Nov 10, 2013


LYRICS : VERSACE AFRICAN REMIX
Note: Each line numbered for referencing purposes.

1. Dashiki, dashiki got these patterns on me like I'm in a circus
2. don't get it twisted my brothas just get one and try to get like us
3. Dashiki game crazy and this is indeed getting ridiculous
4. Akatas be copping my style but my brothas that don't even bother me
5. Drown in dashiki and come out on top like Nelson Mandela
6. I think I'm buying a million of these and nothing is stopping me

7. Born in the Congo but I'm also a son of mother Africa
8. Forget what you heard, dashiki gang bout to take over America

9. Haaan dashiki, dashiki we stay in a hut when we visit the villages
10. The pillow dashiki, the sheets are dashiki, just made it on world star
11. fashion so wild I got the world asking what the heck is he wearing
12. Always got a back up dashiki and it indeed always come in handy
13. We started this movement we bout to blow up soon so man just wait on it
14. This year I'm eating fufu and my
15. table got so many plates on it
16. Wearing dashiki look in the mirror like man I look good in it

17. I'm balling im balling I'm balling just call me mutombo
18. Repping my country and that's right I am from Congo
19. Buying dashiki's cuz business is business, it's strictly financial
20. We always the first one to wear it that's how we lead by example
21. Dashiki, dashiki, dashiki, dashiki, dashiki, dashiki
22. Word to the A cuz I got all my African girls calling me alhadji
23. Fashion stands out, take a village girl out and there's always paparazzi
24.I'm trying to make Halle berry cook me fufu and no one is stopping me

25.Dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki just call me Aladji
26. I called my fatha and told him papa I need more dashikis
27.I need more dashikis cuz all i do is wear it with my homies
28.He told me it's cool cool cool I got more dashikis
29. I don't wanna buy it online cuz I don't mess with the scamming
30. I wish I can have a closet a closet full of dashiki
32. I wear it the morning and night but don't go to sleep with it

33. Dashiki dashiki straight from Togo to Congo Kinshasa
34. Dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki just call me Mandingo
35. Dashiki dashiki dashiki the girls wanna call me Mandingo
36. Aladji Aladji Aladji Aladji Aladji Aladji
37. Mandingo Mandingo Mandingo Mandingo Mandingo
38. Dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki just call me Aladji

39. Ya ya ya ya
40. dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki ya
41. in the studio trying to make it ya
42. posting videos on youtube some you guys can watch it ya
43. trying to make it out of the hood so no one should judge us ya
44. Dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki ya
45. Monuowo Monuowo Monuowo ya
46. This African wishing the* knew us ya
47. The next big thing is here you better believe it ya
48. I'm playing the girls call me balotelli ya
49. I'm playing the game call me mikel obi ya
50. Ya ya wait am trying to rap call me 2chainz ya
51. Kiss my lips if you hating, only if you're a girl no homo ya
52. Dashiki dashiki dashiki dashiki ya
53. Monuowo Monuowo Monuowo monuowo ya ya ya!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31jlUe3I8Mw

* This may be a typo and probably was meant to be "he"
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EXPLANATION OF CERTAIN LINES OF THIS RAP
1. Refers to the multi-colored zig-zags and geometric designs on the iconic, fake African print dashikis of the 1960s and 1970s

2. "don't come to the wrong conclusion"

3. This line says that more people are wearing dashikis [which, in my opinion, is only minimally true in the USA, although the natural looks in hair-care is being revived]

4. "Akata" is a derogatory reference for African Americans ; click this link to a pancocojams post on that subject http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/ataka-is-mean-spirited-word.html

5. "drown in dashikis" = wear a lot of dashikis; This line could also mean "to be immersed in African culture" and be looked down upon or face negative consequences because of that, but in the end be victorious "like Nelson Mandela", the first Black African president of South Africa.

7. A person who is born in the Congo would be a song of mother Africa. Therefore, I don't understand the "but" in that line. However, a commenter to that video's viewere comment thread wrote "congoboy killed it, batika yo, ezo makasi". end of quote; Is "congoboy" a stage name for one of the rappers?

9. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=haaan gives this entry for the word "haaan" - "An add on to the end of an interesting statement. Doesn't have a real meaning, but it is closely related to the word 'yay'.” end of quote
Presumably, that word means the same thing when it is found at the beginning of a sentence. I'm not sure if "Haaan" originates or is commonly used this way in Africa. However, it conveys an "African" or at least a non-American flavor to the sentence.

13. "about to blow it up" = about to be a big success

13. fufu = a staple food in many African and Caribbean countries

17. I'm balling - from the referent "big baller", "originating from a term referring to a very talented basketball player, typically a pro or from "street ball", who lives lavishly--this phrase is commonly used to refer now to anyone who likes to "live large" http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Big+Baller; in the context of this rap "I'm balling" means "I'm living a life full of (material) riches and am treated like the rich person that I am".

"Mutombo" - a reference to Dikembe Mutombo, a professional basketball player from Democratic Republic of the Congo

18. "repping" = representing

19.- 21. In my opinion, the substitution of "dashikis" for "Versace" doesn't work because in the United States are considered largely informal garments or are associated with afro-centric lifestyles.

22. "Word to the A" is probably "word to the African" which means that you are giving a shout-out to Africans (shout-out=publicly acknowledging; publicly complimenting)

"alhaji"= a Muslim who has been to Mecca; in the context of this rap, this probably means a person with high status

33. Togo is a West African nation; Congo Kinshasa is the same as the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was formerly called Zaire; Kinshasa is the capitol of that central African nation; Congo Brazzaville another central African nation. Brazzaville is its capitol.

34. Mandingo is a West African ethnic group. However, "Mandingo" has become a colloquial referent for a well endowed Black man because of an American book and movie with that title about an enslaved Black man in the United States South.

36. Aladji - means the same thing as "alhadji" ; Read this comment from a video titled "Decale Aladji" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb4o8bDiVQM "By Francophone is call Aladji, in yoruba is call Alhaji, meaning some one who has been to Saudi Arabia to perfom the yearly muslim pilgrim"... end of quote

In the context of this United States rap, "aladji" probably means "a person with high status"

39. "ya" probably means "yeah" when it is used alone or at the end of lines

43. "hood" - "neighborhood"; i.e. trying to become economically successful

45. Monuowo =?

48. Mario Balotelli - an Afro-Italian professional footballer (soccer player)
49. Mikel Obi - a Nigerian professional footballer (soccer player) who plays for the English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team

50. 2chainz - a Hip- Hip recording artist from College Park, Georgia

51. "Homo" is usually considered to be a derogatory referent for a homosexual.

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Dashikis - An Old New African & African American Style

Written by Azizi Powell (c) August 2014

Once there were Yoruba Nigerian pullover shirts for males that were called dàńṣíkí. The word dansiki came from the Hausa (Nigerian) word dáncíkí and both were pronounced dan-shee-kee. Dansikis weren't troubled that they were just an undershirt for a three piece outfit of robe (agbada, grand boubou, and other names) and sokoto (pants), or perhaps a four piece outfit if you include the kofi (folded hat). After all, the word "dansiki" means "underneath" in the Hausa language.

And just like men in the United States and other Western nations wouldn't consider themselves well dressed without their suit jackets on, for formal occasions, well dressed Nigerian men belonging to the ethnic groups wouldn't wear their dansikis without putting their robes on over them.

Some dansikis were made out of lace, others of silk, or brocade or traditional African print or other cotton fabrics. Some dansikis had elaborate embroidery patterns around the neck, chest, and sleeve lines while other dansikis had simple embroidery or none at all. Some dansikis had V necklines while others had square or slightly scooped necklines. But all dansikis were form fitting, sleeveless, or with long sleeves or three quarter length sleeves. And all dansikis nearly reached down to their wearers' knees. And that was all good.

But then something happened. Change was in the air, and far across the ocean some men who weren't from Nigeria- at least all of them weren't from that nation, and those that were may not have known it-somehow heard about dansikis.

Those Black men -who are now known as African Americans-wanted to wear clothing that told the world in one glance that they were proud of their African heritage. These men could have chosen to wear material wrapped around their body like a toga since that was how Akan men and a number of other men throughout African traditionally dress. But wearing togas in the United States wasn't such a good ideas, especially drunken college fraternities gave toga parties a bad name. After rejecting loin cloths and no top- in part because it's too cold in much of that nation, and in part because...well just because- the Black men thought about wearing fur pieces as tops along with pants. But they vetoed that idea because they didn't want to be picketed by those anti-cruelty to animal folks, whatever their name was. But then one man who later became a king* decided to sew some dansikis, and some younger men did too*, but they changed the way those dansikis looked.

The dansikis became looser, with short sleeves or three quarter sleeves that were also wider and cooler than they originally were. Also, most of these new styled dansikis were V necked and some had collars. And the new style dansikis were shorter, with their length falling an inch or so below the waist. Also, those new dansikis weren't made out of lace, or brocade, or even traditional African print. Most of them were made out of fake African print that had these zig zaggedy, geometrical shapes on the fabric which some people thought looked kinda hip, but others weren't impressed with at all. But the new style dansikis wasn't disturbed by what others thought- they knew they were lookin good, especially the ones with that embroidery sewn around their necks.

And the makers of those new style, loose fitting dansikis decided to add big pockets on each side or one in the front to make them even more practice. Then those creators-or adapters- decided that these new style dansikis would be worn with pants but without any outer robe. That was different and took some getting use to, but after a while it felt good and it was all good.

Since these were new style dansikis, and since change was in the air, the Black men who made these dansikis came up with a new name for them. Thus the word "dashiki" was born. And it was very good.

And dashikis was so good that many African men-particularly African singers- throughout the continent began to wear those new style shirts so that people seeing them would immediately know that they came from the motherland.

But, some people who weren't of African descent-at least that they knew of- became hip to dashikis, and began to wear them with a lot of beaded necklaces, and- usually - with pants, or shorts. And even some women began to wear them -usually with long wide skirts. And for a time, fewer and fewer African Americans wore dashikis, and the ones who did wear them only did so for special occasions during one short, cold month of the year or during festivities at an African holiday that they had made up called Kwanzaa. And so it remains today. Except that some people in that country are trying to bring back dashikis. And that might be good if its not just for show.

And in Africa, the birthplace of us all, males are still wearing old style (Native) dansikis, and some new style dashikis as well, not only in Nigeria, but also -particularly performers wear those shirts throughout that vast continent. And when people see those performers they immediately know that they are representing the motherland. And that is very very good.

-snip-
* From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiki
"Oba (Yoruba word for king) Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi, who was born Walter Eugene in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1928. He became interested in African Studies at the age of 16, and travelled to Haiti at the age of 20 in order to be exposed to African religion from indigenous Africans. Soon after, he returned to the U.S. and began a small scale manufacturing business which included African attire, most notably dashikis.

The term dashiki began appearing in print at least as early as 1967. Reporting on the 1967 Newark riots in the Amsterdam News on July 22, 1967, George Barner refers to a new African garment called a "danshiki." "Dashiki" formally appeared in the Webster’s New World Dictionary 1st College Edition 1970/72. It cites J. Benning as having coined the word in 1967. J. Benning, M. Clarke, H. Davis and W. Smith founded New Breed, the first manufacturer of the garment in Harlem."
-snip-
His Royal Highness Oba Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi was the founder and head of the Yoruba Temple in New York City, and was the founder and leader of the Yoruba Village of Oyotunji in Beaufort County South Carolina in 1970.

Click http://www.oyotunji.org/oba-oseijeman-bio.html for information about Oba Adefunmi.

That article indicates that Oba Adefunmi "Introduced the Danshiki and began small scale manufacture of African attire in the summer of 1960. Founded the Yoruba Academy for the academic study of Yoruba history, religion and language in 1961. Opened the Ujamaa Market in 1961 beginning a trend of African boutiques, which, like the Danshiki, spread throughout African American communities."
-end of quote-
Also click http://www.pluralism.org/religion/afro-caribbean/oyotunji for information about Oyotunji Village.

I was fortunate to receive a psychic reading from Oba Adefunmi at his home in New York City in 1969, before he moved to South Carolina. That reading was quite evidentiary.

I can attest from personal experience that Oba Adefunmi (who was known then as Baba Osejiman) wore traditional African clothing, as did/does persons affiliated with him, I haven't yet found any outside documentation that he was the originator of dashikis in the United States. While it's probable that he might have manufactured traditional West African clothing, there's no documentation to support the claim that the shirts that he manufactured were called "dashikis" or looked like what is now known as "dashikis".
-snip-
Some material for this essay came from http://www.dupsies.com/blogs/category/dashiki/ and http://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-types-styles/dashiki

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FEATURED VIDEOs
[Iconic late 1960s-1970s dashikis]
Example #1: Traditional Print African Dashiki | Africa Imports Bestsellers



Africa Imports, Uploaded on Nov 19, 2009

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Example #2: Maliki Pandeiro in Uncle Jerry's Dashiki (Maliki Pandeiro no Dashiki do Tio Jerry)



Malikilam Uploaded on Oct 2, 2010

Well, I recently inherited this dashiki from my Uncle Jerry who just passed away. So, this is a tribute to him.

On some level it's nice useful and enjoyable to take existing very seriously and focus on whatever is designated as important in our culturo-temporal context (yes, I'm making up words cause that's how I do), AND (not BUT but AND because this is about unification not distinction) it is also nice, useful and enjoyable to jump into an experience with a lot less preconception and simply play like a kid.

So, this play session is dedicated to one of the cats who laid the foundation on which I do my thing (and hopefully lay some foundations for other folks), my Uncle Jerry. I suppose you could say my Uncle Jerry was a sort of bridge in that he came out of Harlem NYC in an era that was, from what he told me, very much a different scene than what I am used to. It seems like competition (for resources, self-esteem and space to exist) was highlighted in the consciousness of that world, and, interestingly enough, the underlying unity and harmony continually found its way up through the cracks in the cement jungle (doesn't it always eventually?).
From that background Uncle Jerry bridged out to travel the world, explore Eastern religions, make up songs about how he was going to force us kids to eat oatmeal, tell us to feel how strong his biceps were and then catch our hand between his biceps and forearm and not let go, dress to the nines in white suits with butterfly collars, drink Gewürztraminer wine and smack his lips in spirals of excessive glee, hit on women half his age, stay in the ocean and pool longer than any land mammal should, write articles on African-American history and physics to try to educate youngsters, and generally tell everybody what to do and how to do it.

Thanks Uncle Jerry!

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[Examples of Traditional and Contemporary Dansikis in Nigeria]
Note that some contemporary Nigerian dansikis are made with short sleeves, which-if I'm correct that this isn't traditional, suggests the influence of African American dashikis.

Example #1: BEST OF NIGERIAN FASHION "natives"



Godson Eh, Published on Oct 12, 2012

Nigeria is a very diverse Nation. Every tribes has their own costumes and styles of dressing,eating and dancing and singing. Here in this pictures, you have some of the various form of dressing popularly know in Nigeria as "Natives" presented

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Example #2: JANE & NICHOLAS Part 1



pano4real's channel, Published on Jan 29, 2014

Traditional Marriage Ceremony
-snip-
Notice the Nigerian custom and the custom in several other West African nations of spraying money. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/spraying-money-at-yoruba-nigerian.html for a pancocojams post on this custom.
-snip-
Given their attire, including the hats the men wear, and the type of jewelry that the men and women wear, I don't think that this couple is Yoruba. But I'm not sure about that.

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[Examples of Contemporary Dashikis in South Africa]
Example #1: Mzansi Youth Choir



Tony Stroebel Uploaded on Jul 19, 2010

One of the best choirs South Africa has to offer! Performed at the opening of the Fifa 2010 Soccer World cup. Shot with a Canon 5D by Redletter productions.

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Example #2: The Black Umfolosi 5 - Shosholoza



BlackUmfolosiMusic, Uploaded on Feb 29, 2012

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The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

RELATED LINKS
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/dashikis-adaptation-of-yoruba-dansiki.html

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24 Bits featuring Edo Stars - A Song For Unity & Peace (A Song About Ending Kidnapping & Violence In Nigeria)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases "A Song For Unity & Peace". This song is a call to action and a plead to end kidnapping and other violence in Edo state, Nigeria. Although this video was produced long before Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of Nigerian girls in Nigeria's Bono state, the song's message also speaks to that terrible ongoing crisis.

The song is performed by a collaboration of Edo vocalists led by 24 Bits. This kind of collaboration reminds me of the 1985 USA for Africa's "We Are the World" superstar charity recording for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia. However, it seems to me that this 24Bits led recording and video is more powerful than "We Are The World" because the vocalists are singing about their homeland. The quality of the video is excellent and the dancers in traditional clothing add to this video's power.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to 24 Bits and all the performers in this recording and video. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. May the end to this terrible crisis in Nigeria come soon. Bring Back The Girls and all others who have been kidnapped!

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INFORMATION ABOUT EDO STATE (NIGERIA)
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_State
"Edo State is an inland state in western Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State."

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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oba_of_Benin
"The Oba of Benin, or Omo N'Oba, is the traditional ruler of the Edo people and head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Kingdom. The Benin homeland (not to be confused with the modern-day Republic of Benin, which was formerly known as Dahomey), has been and continues to be mostly populated by the Edo (also known as the Bini or Benin ethnic group).
The title of Oba was created by Oba Eweka I, the kingdom's first 'Oba'. The current capital is Benin City, which is in modern-day Nigeria."

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FEATURED VIDEO - 24BITS Ft EDO STARS, NIGERIA BASE



Mr24Bits, Published on Oct 13, 2013

PEOPLE OF EDO STATES LET COME TOGETHER IN UNITY AND PEACE, TOGETHERNESS IS WHAT CAN MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD, LETS STOP KILLING, KIDNAPPING, BETRAYING AND VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE.
SONG FOR PEACE & UNITY.


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LYRICS
Note: These lyrics were superimposed on the video screen. I've taken the liberty to correct minor spelling errors and add minor changes to the words that were given on the screen [given in italics]and have also added some words to the lyrics [given in brackets] so that the lyrics would conform better to standard American English. Additions and corrections are welcome.

SONG FOR PEACE & UNITY
(24 Bits featuring Edo Stars)
Text on screen There should be peace in the land of Edo state

Singing begins
Please let Edo be good for everybody
Good for everybody
Please let Edo be good for everybody
Good for everybody
Please x2
Please let Edo be good for everybody

Kidnappers, criminals, and murderers,
All ye evil doers
Please
Please let our state (Edo) be peaceful
We are pleading
Please x2

Let us join our hands together
and build Edo
It is only good we want
It will be good for us
It would be better for us
Bolivia* greets you all [*Vocalist's name]

Please let Edo be good for everybody
Please 3x Let Edo be good for everybody

Let’s come together to build our state x2
When we come together to build our state
There will be no space for the wicked
When we join hands together
no room for the evil one
Please brothers and sisters

Please let Edo be good for everybody
Please 3x Let Edo be good for everybody

Life is give and take
(Insurance)
Let us be our brothers’ keepers
So we can have good neighborliness
Money not be everything
[nor is] high status
Please let us make Edo a good and peaceful place for us all

Edo, the land of beauty
Edo State, you wish to be a citizen
Edo land, where the king is known universally
Please let Edo prosper
Let’s not betray each other
In other [words] don't scare investors from our state
Take your criminal craft of kidnapping into the forest
Get us big animals for consumption
Lets stop kidnapping ourselves
For peace to reign in our land
The land where the king lives
Please 2x

Please let Edo be good for everybody
Please 3x Let Edo be good for everybody
Please let us make Edo a good and peaceful place for us all [4x]
Please let Edo be good for everybody
Please 3x Let Edo be good for everybody

Citizens of Edo,
I beg of you
Let’s join hands together
So that our state will be great
Let’s unite together because unity is power
If we unite, our land will be a good place to live.
Our journalists, please lets balance our reporting
Do unto others as you would want done unto you
The Bible says Those who comprehend good and refuse to do the same,
are guilty
Let Edo prosper
Oh yeah!

Our people
Let there be peace
In our land
Peace brings development.
Together we stand, divided we fall
Let us come together and move our state forward
All Edos incorporated
When we join hands together
We move our state to greater heights
Please make Edo a good and peaceful place for us all [3x]

My people!
Indigenous people of Edo
We are all one
[We have] No where to go
Let us join hands together and build our state
Edo, our great state
We can’t find a better place than Edo state

Please kidnappers, betrayers of decency
Please. We deserve better than this
Please know that Edo state is our own
Let it be so
When our state is good and peaceful
When Edo state is peaceful that is when
prophecy can come to pass
When the river is hot, even the fish
can’t survive it.
Crisis does not allow good people to inhabit the land
Please, let peace reign
It will be well with us.

Text on screen: Let us come together and support our government and our traditional rulers to build Edo state in unity and peace. Togetherness is what can move our state forward. Let’s stop kidnapping, betraying, and killing one another. There should be peace in Benin kingdom.
Great state, great people, great nation.
Peace be with you all.
Amen.

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Here are three comments from that video's discussion thread:
joyce loveth, 2014
"Nice song please we nigerian should try and love hour neighbors as we all love hour self mostly benin people abeg make una dey try oooooo ......"

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Esther Bailleul, 2014
"What a beautifully melody, my loyalty respect to you all! Is very easy to be united if we can consider our neighbour as our brothers and sisters and don't ignore other people problem. OBA GHA TO KPERE...ISE!!!"

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Osa Julia, 2014
"owow, this is very touchful, infact it is great......"

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Videos Of The Osun-Osogbo Festival (Nigeria) 2013

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two videos of the Osun-Osogbo festival that is held each year in August.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Praises to Osun and all of the orisas. Thanks to all the devotees of Osun and thanks to all who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT OSUN
From http://santeriachurch.org/the-orishas/oshun/
"Oshun (also spelled Ochún, Oṣun or Oxum) is the youngest of the orishas and probably the most popular in Santeria. She was the last orisha born in the world out of Olodumare’s love for creation. She is the orisha of love, beauty, femininity and sensuality which leads many people to compare her to Venus or Aphrodite. Such a comparison is short-sighted, however, for Oshun is vast and powerful; she is actually the full breadth of womanhood. From the young, enthusiastic coquette that flirts with boys to the old matriarch that sits in a rocking chair, hard-of-hearing, reminiscing of her youth, Oshun contains every woman’s story within her patakis. She makes her residence in the rivers of the world. Hers is the power of sweetness in life, and all of the things that make life worth living.

Oshun represents all of the phases of a woman’s life and her worship was popular in Africa"...

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From http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/oshun.php
"Oshun is the Yorùbá Orisha (Deity) of the sweet or fresh waters (as opposed to the salt waters of Yemaya). She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman...

With the African diaspora, Oshun was brought to the Americas, and adopted into the pantheons that branched out of the African traditions. In the Brazilian religion of Candomblé, which retains close ties with the Yorùbá religion, as well as in Cuban Santeriá, She is called Oxum. In Haitian Vodou She is an inspiration for Erzulie or Ezili, also a Deity of water and love."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT OSUN-OSOGBO GROVE
From http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1118 "Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove"
..."The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove is some of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. Through the forest meanders the river Osun, the spiritual abode of the river goddess Osun. Set within the forest sanctuary are forty shrines, sculptures and art works erected in honour of Osun and other Yoruba deities, many created in the past forty years, two palaces, five sacred places and nine worship points strung along the river banks with designated priests and priestesses.

The new art installed in the grove has also differentiated it from other groves: Osogbo is now unique in having a large component of 20th century sculpture created to reinforce the links between people and the Yoruba pantheon, and the way in which Yoruba towns linked their establishment and growth to the spirits of the forest.

The restoration of the grove by artists has given the grove a new importance: it has become a sacred place for the whole of Yorubaland and a symbol of identity for the wider Yoruba Diaspora.
The Grove is an active religious site where daily, weekly and monthly worship takes place. In addition, an annual processional festival to re-establish the mystic bonds between the goddess and the people of the town occurs every year over twelve days in July and August and thus sustains the living cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.

The Grove is also a natural herbal pharmacy containing over 400 species of plants, some endemic, of which more than 200 species are known for their medicinal uses."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT OSUN-OSOGBO FESTIVAL
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osun-Osogbo
Osun-Osogbo or Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a sacred forest along the banks of the Oshun River just outside the city of Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

The Osun-Osogbo Grove is among the last of the sacred forests which usually adjoined the edges of most Yoruba cities before extensive urbanization. In recognition of its global significance and its cultural value, the Sacred Grove was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005...

Osun-Osogbo Festival
Every year, the Osun-Osgogbo festival is celebrated in the month of August at the grove. Yearly, the festival attracts thousands of Osun worshippers, spectators and tourists from all walks of life.

For the people of Osogbo Land, August is a month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city and cultural reunion of the people with their ancestors and founders of the Osogbo Kingdom.[2]

The Osun-Osogbo Festival is a two-week long programme. It starts with the traditional cleansing of the town called 'Iwopopo', which is followed in three days by the lighting of the 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp called 'Ina Olojumerindinlogun'.

Ina Olojumerindinlogun, the sacred lamp lit at the beginning of the annual Osun-Osogbo festival
Then comes the 'Ibroriade', an assemblage of the crowns of the past ruler, Ataojas of Osogbo, for blessings. This event is led by the sitting Ataoja of Osogbo and the Arugba, Yeye Osun and a committee of priestesses.[3]

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Africarts...Osun-Osogbo Festival 2013 (Part A)



TVC News Published on Oct 14, 2013

The Osun-Osogbo Festival in south-west Nigeria occurs every year in the month of August.

It is a grand and colourful fest organized at the "Osun" sacred groves in Oshogbo, the Osun state capital.

It draws tens of thousands of believers of the Osun deity and tourists alike from within and outside the country.
-snip=
A central feature of this festival is that groups of people dance counterclockwise around a 16 light sacred lamp. That is shown at 12:04 in the video until the video ends.

I wonder if this Osun-Osogbo ritual could have been one of the sources of the ring shout:Caribbean.
"A shout or ring shout is an ecstatic, transcendent religious ritual, first practiced by African slaves in the West Indies and the United States, in which worshipers move in a circle while shuffling and stomping their feet and clapping their hands. Despite the name, shouting aloud is not an essential part of the ritual.

The ring shout was practiced in some African American churches into the 20th century, and it continues to the present among the Gullah people of the Sea Islands" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_shout

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Video #2: Africarts...Osun Osogbo Festival 2013 (Part B)



TVC News Published on Oct 14, 2013

The Osun-Osogbo Festival in south-west Nigeria occurs every year in the month of August.

It is a grand and colourful fest organized at the "Osun" sacred groves in Oshogbo, the Osun state capital.

It draws tens of thousands of believers of the Osun deity and tourists alike from within and outside the country.

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Capo Verdean Singer Cesaria Evora - "Sodade" (video & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of Capo Verdean singer Cesaria Evora singing her most famous song "Sodade". Cape Verdean Creole lyrics and English lyrics to this song are also included in this post. In addition, this post provides information about Capo Verde, information about the song "Sodade", and information about Morna music, the genre of music to which the song "Sodade" belongs.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Cesaria Evora for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CAPO VERDE (formerly known as "Cape Verde")
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde
The Cape Verde archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 570 kilometres (350 mi) off the coast of West Africa, near Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania...

The country is a horseshoe-shaped cluster of ten islands (nine inhabited) and eight islets,[24] that constitute an area of 4033 km²...

...Cape Verde's population in the 21st century is mostly creole; the capital city Praia accounts for a quarter of the country's population. Over 65% of the population in the archipelago lives in urban centers....

Cape Verdeans are mulattos (mestiços in Portuguese), who have mixed African and European origins; another term is creole meaning mixed black and white descent.. Later foreigners from all over the world settled in Cape Verde, including from Asia, South America and other countries in Europe. The high degree of genetic and ethnic mixture of individuals is a result of centuries of migration...

Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese. It is the language of instruction and government. However, the Cape Verdean Creole is used colloquially and is the mother tongue of virtually all Cape Verdeans. Cape Verdean Creole or Kriolu is a dialect continuum of a Portuguese-based creole."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "SODADE" (in Portuguese: "Saudade" and translated as "Longing" in English)
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade
"Saudade ... is a Portuguese or Galician word that has no direct translation in English. It describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. Moreover, it often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing may never return...

Saudade is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places or events that once brought excitement, pleasure, well-being, which now triggers the senses and makes one live again. It can be described as an emptiness, like someone (e.g., one's children, parents, sibling, grandparents, friends, pets) or something (e.g., places, things one used to do in childhood, or other activities performed in the past) that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence. It brings sad and happy feelings all together, sadness for missing and happiness for having experienced the feeling...

As with all emotions, saudade has been an inspiration for many songs and compositions. "Sodade" (saudade in Cape Verdean Creole) is the title of the Cape Verde singer Cesária Évora's most famous song"...

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INFORMATION ABOUT MORNA MUSIC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morna_(music)
"The morna (pronunciation in both Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole: [ˈmɔɾnɐ]) is a music and dance genre from Cape Verde.

Lyrics are usually in Cape Verdean Creole, and instrumentation often includes cavaquinho, clarinet, accordion, violin, piano and guitar.

Morna is widely considered the national music of Cape Verde[citation needed], as is the fado for Portugal, the tango for Argentina, the merengue for Dominican Republic, the rumba for Cuba, and so on.

The best internationally known morna singer was Cesária Évora. Morna and other genres of Cape Verdean music are also played in Cape Verdean migrant communities abroad, especially in New England in the US, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, West Africa and parts of Latin America...

Themes
The theme of the morna is varied, but there are certain subjects that are approached with more frequency. Besides universal subjects like love, typically Cape Verdean subjects are talked about, such as departure abroad, the return, the saudade, love for the homeland and the sea"...
-snip-
"lift2live1", a commenter on a discussion thread for another video of this song wrote that
"morna was created in cabo verbe, it's the sound of the fishermen and tocatiniero after long day of work." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfyqQwoFPLY.

I think that "tocatiniero" means "musicians" (i.e. "tocadores" in Spanish). Please correct this if I've guessed wrong.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CESARIA EVORA
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ces%C3%A1ria_%C3%89vora
"Cesária Évora... 27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011) was a Cape Verdean popular singer. Nicknamed the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes,[1] she was also known as the "Queen of Morna".[2]

...Évora's international success came only in 1988 with the release of her first album La Diva Aux Pieds Nus, recorded in France.[2] Her 1992 album Miss Perfumado sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, and included one of her most celebrated songs, "Sodade".[5]

Her 1995 album Cesária brought her broader international success and the first Grammy Award nomination.[2] In 1997, she won KORA All African Music Awards in three categories: "Best Artist of West Africa", "Best Album" and "Merit of the Jury".[6] In 2003, her album Voz d'Amor was awarded a Grammy in the World music category.[2]"...

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SHOWCADE VIDEO: CESARIA EVORA - Sodade. Live In Paris at Le Grand Rex, April 2004. (HD).



ingoleg oleg, Uploaded on Oct 31, 2010

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LYRICS: SODADE
(Writers: Amandio Cabral, Luis Morais)

Sodade
Quem mostra' bo
Ess caminho longe?
Quem mostra' bo
Ess caminho longe?
Ess caminho
Pa Sao Tomé

Sodade sodade
Sodade
Dess nha terra Sao Nicolau

Si bo 'screve' me
'M ta 'screve be
Si bo 'squece me
'M ta 'squece be
Até dia
Qui bo voltà

Sodade sodade
Sodade
Dess nha terra Sao Nicolau

-snip-

English Version: #1*

Longing
Who showed you...
this distant way?
Who showed you...
this distant way?
This way ...
to Sao Tomé

Longing, longing,...
Longing,...
For this land of mine, Sao Nicolau*

If you write me letter,...
I will write you back
If you forget me,...
I will forget you...
Until the day...
You come back


Source: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/sodade-longing.html
-snip-
*There are two other English translations at that site.

**Sao Nicolau = Saint Nicholas, island in Cape Verde

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Bobbie Lewis - Tossin' and Turnin' (example & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the hit 1961 song "Tossin' and Turnin'" as performed by African American vocalist Bobbie Lewis.

The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to the composers of this song and thanks to Bobbie Lewis and all the other original performers of this song. Thanks also to all those quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this example on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tossin'_and_Turnin'
"Tossin' and Turnin'" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1961, and R&B chart,[1] and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was named Billboard's number-one single for 1961, after spending seven consecutive weeks at the top"...

...the Personnel on the original hit recording included Ritchie Adams and Eric Gale on guitar, Bob Bushnell on bass, King Curtis on a tenor sax mouthpiece, Frank Haywood Henry on baritone sax, Paul Griffin on Piano and Sticks Evans on drums

In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked the song as the 27th biggest song of all time that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the chart.[2] It is one of only six songs from the 1960s to spend at least seven weeks in the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Lewis



Old Rock 'n' Roll Uploaded on Jun 30, 2009

This song made it to the number one spot on Billboards Top 100 1961

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LYRICS: TOSSIN AND TURNIN'
(Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene)

I couldn't sleep at all last night
Got to thinkin' of you
Baby things weren't right
Well I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
a-tossin' and turnin' all night


I kicked the blankets on the floor
Turned my pillow upside down
I never never did before
'cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
a-tossin' and turnin' all night


Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light
I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night


The clock downstairs was strikin' four
Couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
'cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
a-tossin' and turnin' all night


Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light
I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night


The clock downstairs was strikin' four
Couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
'cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
a-tossin' and turnin' all, yay, yay, yay
I was a-tossin' and turnin'

[Fade]

Turnin' and tossin'

Source: http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/bobby_lewis/tossin_and_turnin.html
-snip-
Here's information about the beginning of this song from its Wikipedia page given above:
"On the original hit single version, the track begins with Lewis singing "I couldn't sleep at all last night," and it appears this way on most oldies compilations. However, on some releases the song has a prelude, where Lewis sings "Baby...Baby...you did something to me," followed by a musical cue into the first verse. Lewis usually includes this prelude when he performs the song live."

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Seven Luhya Music & Dance Videos (Kenya)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features seven music and dance videos from the Luhya ethnic group in Western Kenya. Information about the Luhyah is also included in this post along with several comments from the discussion threads of those featured videos.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thank to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE LUHYA (in Kenya)
From http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/kethnic.htm "Kenya -- Ethnic Groups"
"There are over 70 distinct ethnic groups in Kenya, ranging in size from about seven million Kikuyu to about 500 El Molo who live on the shore of Lake Turkana. Kenya's ethnic groups can be divided into three broad linguistic groups Bantu, Nilotic and Cushite. While no ethnic group constitutes a majority of Kenya's citizens, the largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, makes up only 20% of the nation's total population, The five largest - Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kamba and Kalenjin- account for 70%. 97.58% of Kenya's citizens are affiliated with its 32 major indigenous groups...

They [the Luhya] are Kenya's third largest ethnic group after the Kikuyu and the Luo.

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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhya_people
"The Luhya (also known as Abaluyia or Luyia)[2] are a Bantu ethnic group in Kenya.[3] They also live in Uganda and Tanzania albeit a minor populace.[3] They number about 5.3 million people, being about 16% of Kenya's total population of 38.5 million, and are the second-largest ethnic group in Kenya.[1]

Luhya refers to both the people and their language. There are 18 (and by other accounts, 19, when the Suba are included) tribes that make up the Luhya. Each with a distinct dialect. The word Luhya or Luyia in some of the dialects means "clan", and Abaluhya (Abaluyia) thus means "people of the clan". Other translations are "those of the same hearth."

[List of] The sixteen tribes...

The principal traditional settlement area of the Luhya was in what is now the Western province of Kenya...

The western province is the most densely populated part of Kenya...

Most modern day Luhyas are Christians; for some (if not all) the word for God is Nyasaye or Nyasae.

The word Nyasae when translated into English roughly corresponds with 'Nya (of) and Asae/ Asaye/ Sae/ Saye/ (God). The Luhya traditionally worshiped an ancient god of the same name. When Christianity was first introduced among the Luhya in the early 1900s by Christian missionaries from Europe and America, the Luhya took the name of their traditional god, Nyasae, forgot about that idol, and gave that name to the God of Christianity.

The first Luhyas who were converted into Christianity took words, names, their perceptions of what Christian missionaries told them about the Living God (the Creator), and other aspects of the religious traditions that they were born into, and applied them to Christ and God."...
-snip-
Click http://www.luhya.net/ "LIFE IN A TRADITIONAL LUHYA VILLAGE" and http://www.luhya.net/HTML_files/music.html
"Luyha Culture"

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube with the oldest dated posts presented first.

Example #1: Kenyan Dance Tindikiti (Mulongo)



okhwaomina's channel, Uploaded on Aug 10, 2007

Bukusu song

Webuye Juakali Band
-snip-
Comments:
sarah alubaka, 2008
"Natural luhya dance, big up guys!!!!"

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Gsug Guy Uff, 2014
"Hey listen to this tune mulongo and be ready to dance only shoulder"

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Example #2: Injila



Oweingo, Uploaded on Nov 3, 2007

Injila by Bernard Lukose yani Luseno Junior featuring Milembe stars with sukuti and shilili. Video graphics Kakamega Golf Hotel and Savona Isle on Isiukhu river
-snip-
Comments:
omuyemba, 2008
"injila kama ni swahili ni 'njia'"
-snip-
Google Translate: Swahili to English
"injila as is swahili is 'the way'"

**
Andy Mac5 years ago
"I actually know this place,infact i knw some of this guys,i've even danced to this during a bull fighting event in my school.(Shamusinjiri primary school). Tsia tsia tsia...henaho butswa!Oh i miss home!"
-snip-
Shamusinjiri primary school is in the Western part of Kenya.

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Example #3: Lumbe



Oweingo, Uploaded on Nov 4, 2007

Lumbe by Bernard Lukose yani Luseno Junior featuring Milembe stars with sukuti and shilili. Video graphics Kakamega Golf Hotel and Savona Isle on Isiukhu river
-snip-
Comments:
Ayiera Muluka, 2008
"Very sad song indeed! Omwana yarira eshindu shimukhayanga munda! Banyola lumbe lumukhayanga munda!"

**
wilson vincent koech, 2009
"I am a nandi and do not quite know what this talented guy is singing about but he really does have a good way of conveying the message. i love the music talent of the luhiya for though this song sounds as if tragedy has loomed at large."

**
mwendapolee, 2009
"iam a bukusu i understand some his talkin of aids ."

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Example #4: ovurware vukongo



kamzzee, Uploaded on Aug 25, 2008

luhya music
-snip-
Comments:
jumasalmin, 2009
"I dont understand luhya but luhya but i know music to me music is composition so no matter what tribe or language its sang if the song is good i'll know and i'll like it. Now i once heard a luhya song i dont know its name is "luwere". They lyrics go like this "utawacha nyumba yako utaenda, utawacha mali yako utaenda, utaenda nyumbani kwa baba, luwere nyasae......" i've been looking for it but in vain, can someone please help me obtain this song its sang in luhya and Swahili"

**
swiwt, 2009
in reply to jumasalmin
"@jumasalmin its just an amazing song about aids awareness"
-snip-
I think this comment refers to the song that is featured in the video.

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Example #5: webuye jua kali : baluhya



bartjelsma, Uploaded on Sep 18, 2008

webuye jua kali : baluhya
please enjoy this nice music from a great country called Kenya

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Example #6: Luhya Folk Song



Christopher Borges Uploaded on Jul 7, 2011

A Luhya Folk Song, performed by ___ (help with the school!) at the Vihiga District Festival, June 2011.
Comments:
saadouseydou, 2011
"I'm soo totally proud of these boys. They have so much amazing talent. This is a school from my home village in Tiriki. Nice piece. Love the arrangement and their costumes too."

**
Roy Onyeka, 2013
"Thats my school...senende boys secondary"

**
Isaac Tamey, 2013
"this song was originally kapsabet boys. we performed it severally upto the nationals annually. i can remember names like Shabanga agevi....

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Example #7: Wanyonyi khatundi- euyo.flv



gabbweks's channel, Uploaded on Jan 31, 2012

bukusu traditional.

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