Amadou Bagayoko speaks with NPR's Afropop Worldwide: "We said we are all in the
same boat, but nobody knows where we are going. It was like, we're all in this
together, but nobody knows what's going to happen. So the best solution is for those
who have gone on this adventure to a strange land to think about those they left behind
in their country. If they're in the big city, they must think about their parents and friends
who have stayed behind in small villages. That's what we sang about in "Senegal Fast
Food," because the song about exodus, about people who are going here and there.
People who want to live this way have problems, with visas, with the police, all that.
The best thing is to pay attention. You are there, but you don't know what's going to
happen."

The themes remind me of 'Ya Rayah' by Cheb Khaled.

(VB via SM)
- sally mckay 4-29-2008 3:24 am

good catch GVB



Ya Rayah turns out to be by an Algerian songwriter named Dahmane El Harrachi, found a translation for the lyrics:

Oh, Emiigrants

Oh where are you going?
Eventually you must come back
How many ignorant people have regretted this
Before you and me

How many overpopulated countries and empty lands have you seen?
How much time have you wasted?
How much have you yet to lose?
Oh emigrant in the country of others
Do you even know what's going on?
Destiny and time follow their course but you ignore it