I first found this song a few years ago while looking into the pygmy flute. The pygmy flute, the native name is n’dehou, is a one note bamboo flute that the performer uses as well as sings with. Here is a video that shows Francis Bebey talking about the flute as well as demonstrating different ways to play it.
Bebey sings about how “they keep dreaming of war” and how they do this in hopes of making money. I think it is talking about the western influence that is present in Africa, and how the European colonizers came and disrupted the way of life they had. On top of this, it may be talking about a more broad idea. The idea of the economic disparity, separate from race.
I think this song boils down to discussing the economical and cultural differences between the people that Bebey identifies with and the people in the town. He says that they think we(the people Bebey identifies with) are wild, when they are more savage and wilder than we. I think this is important to acknowledge because it highlights the fear of what is different as well as talks about how the economically advantaged have no control and therefore are wild.
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