This song is dedicated to the need for curriculum reform across Africa in order to fully break free from the education systems implemented during the colonial era. Education has been an essential tool for indoctrinating
the minds of Africans in order to pave the way for colonisation, and to maintain the exploitation of the continent and its people which continues to feed international financial growth. Our education system still influences Africans from a young age to revere anything that does not look like, sound like or behave like them, thus nurturing a deep sense of inferiority and cultural rejection. Education is a vital foundation block in changing mentality, and it is my conviction that by rewriting our education system we are directly strengthening the bigger mission of real sustainable development, and building a powerful road towards the self-determination, self-governance and economic self-sustainability of our African nations. I call for an education system that places the history, culture and identity of the African child at the centre of their everyday academic education. This song is written in a very unfamiliar time-signature for this tradition (in the count of seven), symbolising reformation, the call for change, and the hopes for the future which lie in investing in our young, as our leaders, role models and changemakers of tomorrow.
lyrics
LYRICS:
500 years
have gone by
since our independence was gained
What have we done?
To break the chains of mental domination
Now, tell me, what has changed?
Still the legacy of colonialism dominates us
Have we freed our minds from foreign domination?
Where is our wealth?
Where are our resources
Where is our independence
Where are the benefits of our land that we fought for?
An education system that disempowers us
nurtures our underdevelopment
We wonder
why our people leave the continent
We teach them foreign history and foreign culture, in foreign languages…
Our culture
Our history
Our languages
Still banished from our schools
We defend a system
Designed to keep Africans dependant
Education is powerful
Truly powerful
More powerful than weapons
Teach my child her own culture and history
Teach my child to develop her own nation
Teach my child to be a proud African
Our future is bright in your hands
credits
from Badinyaa Kumoo,
track released September 23, 2022
Composed and Produced by Sona Jobarteh
Lead Vocals / Backing Vocals / Guitars / Bass / Percussion: Sona Jobarteh
Drum Kit: Westley Joseph
Congas and brushes: Miroca Paris
Chorus Vocals: Gambia Academy Students: (Rohey Badjie, Hulaynatou Jallow and Mariama Saho) and Sona Jobarteh
Mixed by Femi Temowo
Mastered by Chris Pavey
Dearest Arooj, firstly thank you. My brother died this year n what can be said about such loss n sadness. I saw n heard you at The end of the Road in England. I spent many years in India n love all the music, poetry of your heritage. Thankyou Arooj❤️ ben1769
I love these women. the voices mesh together perfectly; also the world music is exceptional. I have all of their albums and they're all excellent. Give them a listen. Steve Lake
A master of the West African kora, living in Denmark, brings together folk and pop from different corners of the globe to stunning effect. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 5, 2018
Ballaké Sissoko is my favorite kora player, and following his musical life has led me to some of my most beloved musical discoveries.
This latest release is every bit as gorgeous as all of his prior work.
And it is so clear how he brings the best out of each of his collaborators. Charlie Moonbeam