3 African books that shape the second verse on AJO’s new single, ‘Nuba’
Nuba is the second official single off African Reality, an album AJO is currently working on. It is a fully fledged African-Centric project which AJO is highly inspired working towards. According to him, the commentary he offers with the rhetorics he puts forward – we need to look at the future, past and present to appreciate Africa.
I made an effort to chat with him about several things, African – my intention was to check the inspiration of the second verse which ideally is stringed around 3 African books or books that have been likened to be so. The conversation via messenger lasted longer than just literature. The full Q&A will be available tomorrow.
Here is verse two, first of all:
Verse 2
Nuba, Son of the Night light
Son of the dark moon, the shadow of Mandela
Descending from the handicapped Tales of a Slave Runner
Land of the free but still mentally compromised,
Prima donna Donors, the dark side of the human mind
Papa don’t preach to the pain of the Brutalized
From a land where, death is a gift and life is a curse
And you can rehearse in every verse and end up a fact or end up a factor
Pick your disaster Haile Selassie, one for the Rastas
From the land of the Timbuktu and dying cultures
Things fall apart from the rivers between
So as we cry the beloved country, the grass is singing
My head ringing, voices from the other side screaming
Never forget who you are or who your kin is
Forefathers that fought hard for new beginnings
And if it is not yet clear read on:
- Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe: which is a popular African classic about a one Obi Okwonko. Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe in 1958. The story’s main theme concerns pre- and post-colonial life in late nineteenth century Nigeria source
- The River Between, Ngugi Wa’ Thiongo: another classic especially in most Ugandan secondary schools. Ngugi’s famous narrative about two riddles, Makuyu and Kameno which are separated by a valley andriver Honia, the source of life. On Kamenu lived the members of Gikuyu who believed strongly in traditional practices while on Makuyu lived the members who had converted to Christianity source: NewTimes
The Grass is Singing, Doris Lessing: Not so popular a book, I met it at campus as a Literature student. The Grass Is Singing is the first novel, published in 1950, by British Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing. – Wikipedia
When I asked AJO about the influence of these books here is what he had to say:
***
SHAWN: Mid verse 2 of Nuba you spit these bars: Pick your disaster Haile Selassie, one for the Rastas From the land of the Timbuktu and dying cultures Things fall apart from the rivers between So as we cry the beloved country, the grass is singing My head ringing, voices from the other side screaming…
AJO: Oh yes!
SHAWN: And for anyone who has read a good number of African books that particular point forces one to think of the book titles in one way or another – did you actually put much thought how it pans out?
AJO: Definitely…see every one word stringed in that verse complimented the actual message of the song as I tried to make it Artistic in a way. […] Every word, Euphemism and reference was a message in its own…all these books hold powerful literature and influence enough to make you think and get woke.
***
It is nice to know rapper put much though into what they do which enables them to craft sublime pieces of work. There is so much more like African History and Geography all over Nuba.
To get Nuba follow link below:
[sdm_download id=”4857″ fancy=”1″ color=”darkblue”]
Read the full interview here:
Interview: AJO talks Nuba, Affinity for Literature, staying Woke and more
Are you the reading type? Have you read any of the books above, let us know your story in the comment section.
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