Alpha Blondy (born Seydou Koné on January 1, 1953 in Dimbokoro, Côte d'Ivoi… Read Full Bio ↴Alpha Blondy (born Seydou Koné on January 1, 1953 in Dimbokoro, Côte d'Ivoire) is a reggae singer. He is a major star in West Africa. He has played with The Wailers. He studied English at Hunter College in New York, and later in the Columbia University American Language Program.

Alpha Blondy sings mainly in his native language of Dioula, in French and English, and sometimes in Arabic or Hebrew. His lyrics convey strong political attitudes and a sense of humor. He coined the French word "democrature" (an English equivalent might be "democratatorship") to identify some African governments.

http://www.alphablondy.info

Dictature
Alpha Blondy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Diviser pour régner
Diviser pour mieux nous arnaquer
Diviser pour régner
Diviser pour mieux nous entuber

La carotte et le bâton
Attention au retour de bâton
La paix sociale ne peut se conjuguer

Que dans l'unité

Le totalitarisme xénophobe
Mènera à l'adversité
Avec son corollaire de colère généralisée
Toutes les atrocités dans la cité

Diviser pour régner
Diviser pour mieux nous arnaquer
A vaincre sans péril
On triomphe sans gloire
Vos lois fébriles
Nous poussent au désespoir
Je refuse l'exil
Car Dieu est ma gloire
Je refuse l'exil
Car Dieu est ma victoire

La carotte et le bâton
Attention au retour de bâton
La paix sociale la paix civile
Ne peut se conjuguer que dans l'unité
Dans l'unité dans l'unité

Ce n'est pas en cassant le thermomètre
Qu'on fera baisser la fièvre

Overall Meaning

Alpha Blondy's song Dictature is a politically charged anthem that rallies against the notion of dividing people in order to rule over them. The lyrics paint a picture of an oppressive regime that uses fear and manipulation to control its citizens. The phrase "Diviser pour régner" (divide and conquer) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of division. The lyrics suggest that people need to unite in order to achieve peace and social harmony. Alpha Blondy warns against the pitfalls of totalitarism, citing its tendency to create adversity and generalized anger. The line "A vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire" (To conquer without danger is to triumph without glory) critiques the idea of winning without struggle. The song closes with the assertion that breaking the thermometer will not bring down the fever, encouraging listeners to confront the root of their problems rather than just symptoms.

Line by Line Meaning

Diviser pour régner
To divide in order to rule

Diviser pour mieux nous arnaquer
To divide in order to better scam us

Diviser pour régner
To divide in order to rule

Diviser pour mieux nous entuber
To divide in order to better deceive us

La carotte et le bâton
Carrot and stick

Attention au retour de bâton
Watch out for the backlash

La paix sociale ne peut se conjuguer
Social peace cannot be achieved

Que dans l'unité
Except through unity

Le totalitarisme xénophobe
Xenophobic totalitarianism

Mènera à l'adversité
Leads to adversity

Avec son corollaire de colère généralisée
With its corollary of widespread anger