Sankara
Alpha Blondy Lyrics


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héi...hou la la la la
sankara
thomas sankara
capitaine sankara
ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja
mal mal dja
sankara
thomas sankara
ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja
un coup d'état appelle d'autres coup d'états
et les frères d'armes tot ou tard deviennent ennemies
et ça je vous l' avais déjà dit
le pouvoir se prend par les urnes et par les armes
sankara
thomas sankara
capitaine sankara ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja
mal mal dja
une trahison appelle toujours d' autres trahisons
il n'y a pas de saison
et là j' ai raison
le pouvoir se prend par les urnes (et ça je vous l'avais déjà dis)
et non par les armes(et non par les armes)
(le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)
héi hou la la la la
de vengeance en vengeance l 'afrique est tombé dans la décheance
vouloir venger sankara
c 'est perpétuer la bétise
la bétise politique
anti démocratique
soif de pouvoir
c'est la boulimie du pouvoir
c'est la gourmandise du pouvoir
(le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)bis
bis{sankara
{thomas sankara
hou la la la la





(Merci à drissa pour cettes paroles)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alpha Blondy's song "Sankara" pay tribute to the former Burkina Faso president and revolutionary, Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated in 1987 after four years of transformative leadership. The song starts with the repetition of "héi...hou la la la la" which could be interpreted as the imitation of African drums, evoking a sense of rhythm and urgency. The chorus mentions Sankara's name, followed by the reference to his army friends or supporters - "les baramogo" - who caused him harm. The repetition of "mal mal dja" expresses the pain and sorrow of the loss of this leader, whose legacy has endured for decades after his death.


The verses then provide a commentary on the nature of power and politics, drawing from Sankara's own speeches and ideas. The first verse affirms that coups often beget coups, and that former allies become enemies. It also emphasizes the idea that power can be attained through elections or through armed struggle. This is followed by the repetition of the "baramogo" line, emphasizing their role in Sankara's fate. The next verse declares that betrayal leads to more betrayal - there is no season for it. The reiteration of the "urnes et par les armes" line reinforces the message that politics can be pursued peacefully or violently. The final lines advise against seeking revenge, as it perpetuates political foolishness and a desire for power that ultimately leads to the downfall of nations.


Line by Line Meaning

héi...hou la la la la
This line is just a repetitive, catchy chorus with no clear meaning.


sankara
The song is about Thomas Sankara, a popular Burkina Faso leader who was assassinated in 1987. His name is repeated throughout the song as a symbol of his influence and legacy.


capitaine sankara
Sankara was a former captain who rose to power as the President of Burkina Faso in a coup d'état. His military background and leadership style are part of what made him a controversial figure.


ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja mal mal dja
This line refers to Sankara's close friends and allies, known as the Baramogo. It suggests that these individuals were involved in Sankara's downfall or that they failed to protect him, which caused him great pain (mal mal dja).


un coup d'état appelle d'autres coup d'états
This line suggests that once a military coup has taken place, it is more likely that other coups will occur in the future. It implies instability and conflict as a result of changing leadership.


et les frères d'armes tot ou tard deviennent ennemies / et ça je vous l' avais déjà dit
This line means that military allies or comrades in arms often become enemies over time. The singer is saying that he has warned people about this before, implying that Sankara may have ignored this warning and trusted the wrong people.


le pouvoir se prend par les urnes et par les armes
This line means that power can be seized either through democratic means (voting) or through force (armes). The singer is suggesting that Sankara's rise to power through a coup raises questions about the legitimacy of his leadership.


une trahison appelle toujours d'autres trahisons
This line means that acts of betrayal often lead to further acts of betrayal. It implies that Sankara may have been betrayed by someone he trusted, which led to his downfall.


il n'y a pas de saison / et là j'ai raison
This line means that there is no fixed time or season for political upheaval or betrayal. The singer is trying to make the point that the dangers faced by Sankara are not unique to his time and place but are universal.


et non par les armes(et non par les armes)
This line repeats the point from earlier in the song that power should be obtained through peaceful, democratic means rather than by force.


(le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)
This phrase means that conflicts and disagreements should be resolved within a family or community rather than through violence or warfare. The singer is using this phrase to emphasize the importance of peaceful resolution of conflicts.


de vengeance en vengeance l'afrique est tombé dans la décheance
This line means that a cycle of revenge and retaliation has led to the decline and poverty of Africa. It implies that political instability and violence have prevented the continent from progressing or developing.


vouloir venger sankara / c 'est perpétuer la bétise
This line means that seeking revenge for Sankara's death is foolish and misguided. The singer is suggesting that such revenge would only perpetuate the cycle of violence and political conflict.


la bétise politique / anti démocratique / soif de pouvoir / c'est la boulimie du pouvoir / c'est la gourmandise du pouvoir
These lines all describe the negative aspects of politics and power, including the corruption, lack of democracy, and greed that often accompany political leadership. The singer is suggesting that these factors played a role in Sankara's downfall.


(le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)bis
This is a repetition of an earlier line emphasizing the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.


{sankara / {thomas sankara / hou la la la la
These lines are a repetition of earlier lines mentioning Sankara's name.




Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ismailaseck1088

Bon, faut préciser que le morceau sur Sankara n’est pas un hommage. C’est une manière tartuffe de la part d’Alpha Blondy de déprécier celui-là qui fait la fierté de toute l’Afrique souverainiste.


En outre, nul ne doit ignorer qu’Alpha Blondy a pris le parti d’Houphouët Boigny, lequel n’a jamais été autre chose que le garant de l’ordre colonialiste.
Il légitime cette chanson en mettant en exergue « la voie des urnes contre la voie des armes», mais c’est un faux argument, sinon pourquoi porte-t-il l’effigie de Che Guevara sur le dos de son treillis?


Le processus révolutionnaire réclame des manières spécifiques selon les contextes, aucune urne ne pouvait libérer le Cuba du joug américain, et en Afrique ce sont les urnes hélas qui perpétuent partout le néocolonialisme.
Vive Sankara, à bas le caméléon, hier fils d’Houphouët, avant-hier ami de Gbagbo et aujourd’hui soutient de Ouattara.



@eudeswill5503

Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Capitaine Sankara
Ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja
(Mal, mal dja)
Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Capitaine Sankara
Ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja
Un coup d'État entraîne toujours d'autres coup d'États
Et les frères d'armes tôt ou tard deviennent ennemis
Et ça je vous l'avais déjà dit
Le pouvoir se prend par les urnes et non par les armes
(Et non par les armes)
Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Capitaine Sankara
Ce sont tes baramogo qui t'ont dja, dja
(Mal, mal dja)
Une trahison entraîne toujours une autre trahison
Il n'y a pas de saison et là j'ai raison
Le pouvoir se prend par les urnes (et ça je vous l'avais déjà dit)
Et non par les armes (et non par les armes)
(Le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)
De vengeance en vengeance l'Afrique est tombée dans la déchéance
Vouloir venger Sankara, c'est perpétuer la bêtise
La bêtise politique, anti démocratique
Soif de pouvoir, c'est la boulimie du pouvoir
C'est la gourmandise du pouvoir
(Le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)
(Le linge sale se lave en famille mais pas dans le sang)
Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Sankara



@asedebebjunior7383

Héi ... hou la la la la la
Sankara
Thomas sankara
Captain sankara
Your baramogo have already made you
Evil evil already
Sankara
Thomas sankara
Captain sankara
Your baramogo have already made you
A coup d'etat calls for other coup d'etats
And sooner or later the brothers in arms become enemies
And that I had already told you
Power is taken by ballot boxes and not by arms
(not by arms)
Sankara
Thomas sankara
Captain sankara it is your baramogo who already dja dja
Evil evil already
Betrayal always calls for other betrayals
There is no season
And there I am right
The power is taken by the ballot boxes (and that I already told you)
And not by arms (and not by arms)
(dirty laundry is washed with the family but not in the blood)
Héi hou la la la la la
From revenge to revenge Africa fell into decline
Want to avenge sankara
It's perpetuating stupidity
Political stupidity
Anti democratic
Lust for power
It's the bulimia of power
It is the gluttony of power
(dirty laundry is washed with the family but not in the blood)
(dirty laundry is washed with the family but not in the blood)
{sankara
{thomas sankara
{sankara
{thomas sankara
Hou la la la la la
(Sankara)



All comments from YouTube:

@shabanilwei8416

Thomas Sankara😢 ...The Son of Africa is a living legend and We must pay a respect...🙌
Mad love from Tanzania🇹🇿🇹🇿

@simontamba1285

Pamoa mkuu

@asmeranafike5546

Thomas Sankara one of the greatest hero in Africa history. One love from Eritrea 🇪🇷🇪🇷🇪🇷🇪🇷

@simontamba1285

Together as one

@marigoldan1

Africa is forever indebted to Thomas Sankara. Rest in power our hero. From Ethiopia 🇪🇹

@LarzGustafsson

Sankara was the man! He was murdered by imperialism and neo-colonialism. Sankara accomplished more in 4 years than the previous leaders together (in around 20 years).

@morr3349

Death to all imperialist and their agents in the African continent

@leomandchourian5460

Rikitig brorsan!

@elliotnunstedt3966

@@leomandchourian5460 Helt rätt!

@brandonsiliombelibanga6005

Why should black heros die so soon?

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