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and Learn About the World
Discuss,
and Learn About the World
This rhythm is called Kanginni Koko; used in some particular kind of shrines … in my home town, Abeokuta City. It goes like this…
Kanginni koko; kanginni je nje 4/ce
Kanginni koko; kanginni je nje
Instrumentals
Why Blackman dey suffer today 2/ce
Why Blackman no get money today 2/ce
Why Blackman no go for moon today 2/ce
This is the reason why (tell me now; tell me again) 3/ce
We dey sit down for our landi jeje (sax) 2/ce
We dey mind our business jeje (sax)
Some people come from far away land (sax)
Dem fight us and take our land (sax)
Dem take our people and spoil our towns (sax)
Na since then trouble starti o (hun, hun; one more time) 3/ce
Our riches dem take away to their land (sax)
In return dem give us their colony (sax)
Dem take our culture away from us (sax)
Dem give us dem culture we no understand (sax)
Black people we no know ourselves (sax)
We no know our ancestral heritage (sax)
We dey fight each other everyday (sax)
We’re never together; we’re never together at all (sax) 2/ce
That is why Blackman dey suffer today
That is why Blackman dey suffer today
Traditional shrine music
Why black people suffer today
Why black people are poor today
Why black people are not into space exploration today
This is why
We’re sitting peacefully in our homes
Peacefully minding our business
Strangers came from far away land
They fought us and captured our land
They captured our people and ruined our towns
It’s been trouble ever since
They made off with our riches
In exchange for their colony
They robbed us of our culture
Gave us their confusing culture
Black people lost all self-identity
We forgot our ancestral heritage
We’re constantly at one another’s throats
There’s no unity among us
That is why black people suffer today
Lyrics
General Translation
I’ve edited the 15-minute LP to just under six minutes for the world’s education and entertainment.
Posted October 1, 2009 to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day – 49 years of unfulfilled potentials.
Posted October 1, 2009 to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day – 49 years of unfulfilled potentials.
Soundtrack edited and lyrics compiled by Bolaji (Sept. 2009)
Why Blackman dey Suffer -
Sung in Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English
British recording firm, EMI, had a firm grip on the record industry in Nigeria in the 70s, and Fela’s records were released on their label. When Fela recorded Why Blackman dey Suffer in 1971, EMI refused to release it ostensibly because the company considered the contents hit too close to home.
Fela released Why Blackman dey Suffer on his own private label years later.
Also by Fela - Don’t Gag Me (click to listen and learn)
Tell me again; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
They take our culture away; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
They take our riches away; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
They take our land from us; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
They take our people away; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
We have to think of time to come; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
We have to think of our children to come; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
We have to be together and unite; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
That is why Blackman dey suffer today; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
That is why Blackman no go for moon today; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
That is why Blackman no get money today; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
That is why Blackman dey suffer; That is why Blackman dey suffer today
Also by Fela - No Bread (click to listen and learn)
Lagbaja - Justice for Woman (click to listen and learn)