Musical Journey: West Africa to Southeast Asia
West Africa
Ghana
Mami Wata – Kwaa Mensah
Vintage Palmwine. Mami Wata is a water spirit recognized in various forms across West Africa.
Nigeria
Taxi Driver – Bobby Benson
Dance-band Highlife in Nigeria.
“Viva Nigeria” – Fela Kuti
Highlife-jazz style. Gained recognition and financial support from the Nigerian federal government. The song later embarrassed the Nigerian federal government due to its slogan, “Keep Nigeria One.”
James Brown
Superbad “funk,” an influence on Fela Kuti’s mature Afrobeat style. “Badness” (boasting greatness).
“Zombie” – Fela Kuti
Afrobeat. The song criticizes the Nigerian military, portraying them as zombies who mindlessly follow directions, killing and dying for their bosses.
Ghana
“Keep Your Eyes on the Road” – Reggie Rockstone
A “Hiplife” song with references to things locally identifiable as Ghanaian.
“Kehafreee- Kwame Nkrumah” – Obrafour da Executioner
Hiplife meets older traditions. Prayers are recited in honor of the ancestors – Obrafour pays homage to Nkrumah and establishes himself as a cultural authority.
“16 Years” – Mzbel, feat. Castro
Hiplife. A condemnation of older men who pursue young women. It supports that women should be able to dress and express themselves however they wish without being the victims of harassment. It reflects the adoption of a “foreign” (Western) culture and its sexual mores.
Jamaica
“Bargie” – The Jamaican Calypsonians
A classic Jamaican Mento song. Mento lyrics are often lighthearted (this one is about cooking food), and sexual double-entendres are quite common.
“Ska-Boo-Da-Ba” – The Skatalites
Instrumental Ska.
“007 (Shanty Town)” – Desmond Dekker
The song references James Bond (agent 007) and the film Ocean’s 11.
“Trenchtown Rock” – Bob Marley and the Wailers
Reggae. Themes include Rastafarianism, identification with the poor masses, and the healing effects of music.
“King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown” – Augustus Pablo and King Tubby
“Dub.”
India
“AAAAAAAA, tem tem taaam. Kya Pyar Kiya to Darna?” – Mughal-e-Azam
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar. The film is about the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his courtesan. It features Kathak and the use of a Western orchestra to support the singing.
“Radha Kaise na Jale” (2001) – Lagaan
Singer: Asha Bhosle. The film is about a peasant uprising against British colonizers in the late 19th century. The flute in this number represents the deity Krishna’s flirtatiousness toward his lover Radha.
“Arziyaan” – Delhi-6
Composer: A. R. Rahman. This film tells the story of a man renewing his cultural ties by spending time with his extended family in Old Delhi. It uses Qawwali, a regional genre, to signify religious devotion.
“Bhabiye ni Bhabiye” – Alaap
Diasporic exponents of Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance. It combines traditional Punjabi percussion and vocals with Western instruments.
“Mundian to Bach Ke” (Jay-Z Remix) – Panjabi MC, feat. Jay-Z
The song is often used in film and television to signify “Indian-ness.”
“Acting Shady” – Apache Indian
A blend of Bhangra and dancehall reggae rhythms, known as Bhangra-muffin. Choruses are in a pop R&B style. His identity is shown by juxtaposing sounds and images of “traditional” India with those of urban British life.
“Eclipse” – Talvin Singh
Features the Indian Tabla drum, Indian classical music, and electronic dance forms like drum-and-bass. Beyond the stylistic boundaries of Bhangra, Singh’s eclectic South Asian fusion is known as Asian Underground.
Latin America
“Ay Candela” – Ibrahim Ferrer
Son. The lyrics are metaphoric and frequently contain sexual double-entendres.
“Pelo Telefone” – Martinho da Vila
Samba. Composed by Ernesto dos Santos (Donga).
“Tropicália” – Caetano Veloso
Tropicália is about making music rather than a stylistically coherent genre (cultural cannibalism), used to create something new of one’s own.
Middle East and North Africa
“Arouh Li Min” – Umm Kulthum
Ughniya, a “long song” that can evoke Tarab (ecstasy) in her audience.
“Hkaytak Eih” – Amr Diab
Arab/Mediterranean Pop. Marketed towards a middle-class or elite audience.
“Taty Taty” – Ramy Essam
Folk/protest music. Related to the Tahrir Square protests, it reflects that the promise of the revolution would not be fulfilled. “Lower your head, you live in a democratic country.” Egypt’s failure to enact true democracy after the revolution should be a source of shame.
“Against Harassment” – Amr 7a7a (Haha), Alaa Fifty Cent, Sadat el Alaamy
Mahragan (street festival) music. The lyrics are vulgar and deal with issues affecting the poor in Egyptian society.
Southeast Asia
“Jasmine Girl” – Sinn Sisamouth and Pen Ran
Cambodian/Khmer Pop. Both artists died during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror in the 1970s.
“I Want to Shout” – Ros Sereysothea
Cambodian/Khmer Pop. The artist also died during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror in the 1970s.
“A Thousand Tomorrows” – Indradevi
Electronic dance music. This song features Cambodian-American emcee Khmer Kid and singer Sophea.