I am a huge fan of African music, from local legends such as Gang of Instrumentals, Wonderboom, Springbok Nude Girls, Johnny Clegg, Prophets of the City and Lark to HHP, Ghana Hip Life and various other musos I find along the way. After hearing Capsolys on the TV a few months back, I was totally charmed – Afrika is such an awesome, awesome song and I think it’s even more awesome in light of all this African pride for 2010.
As a South African whose parents hail from Africa proper, in the beautiful and damaged country of Zimbabwe, and someone who has been around the continent to a limited extent, it’s very hard to describe what it means to be part of Africa. I’ve always felt an immense pride, in the staggering beauty and harsh contrasts, the fierce pride and strength of a nation, the things we have overcome, the diversity and complexity of our people, and most of all, the sheer stubbornness and unique sense of identity that has managed to somehow withstand decades of colonialism, oppression and extreme hardship. To me, being African is something I value, and I take a lot of pride in being in a third world place, where things are wonderfully, crazily and whole-heartedly chaotic and utterly familiar and comforting.
Capsolys, and especially Afrika, makes me feel all of this and so much more. I love the video, and I think this dude kicks some serious butt. American hip hop may be cool in many ways, but they don’t have anything on our guys when it comes to real African rhythm and feeling!
She said whaaat?