Visionary singer, cultural ambassador, storyteller Baaba Maal wasn’t destin… Read Full Bio ↴Visionary singer, cultural ambassador, storyteller Baaba Maal wasn’t destined to be a performer - in West African culture, the ancient griot caste traditionally produces the singers and poets, and Maal was born in 1953 in the northern Senegal town of Podor into the fisherman's caste. Growing up surrounded by music, he defied expectation and became a musician. Maal formed the group Daande Lenol developing a distinctive sound fusing traditional African instruments with an electronic approach. 1988’s Wango was the first in a series of solo albums including Missing You, Lam Toro & Baayo. In 2015, he recorded The Traveller for Marathon Artists, reflecting his passion for exploring and blurring diverse musical forms. In 2018 he helped composer Ludwig Goransson soundtrack Marvel’s Black Panther. Established as the Voice of Wakanda, Maal is featured in the Black Panther sequel, 2022’s Wakanda Forever. Baaba Maal's next album, Being, will be released via Marathon Artists on March 31st 2023.

Baaba Maal will be headlining London's Barbican on the 30th of May.

African Woman
Baaba Maal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

yeah!
big ups to all the African women
doing their things all up in the streets
shout out to my mum who raised me
I know I been a bad kid,
but you know man's gotta blow at the end of the day
shout out to Lekan who's about to go in
(Leks, let's get it).

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Baaba Maal's song "African Woman" are a celebration and tribute to women in Africa, specifically those who are out in the streets, working hard and making a difference. The song begins with the artist giving a shout out to these women and showing his appreciation for all that they do. He also pays homage to his own mother, who raised him and dealt with him being a difficult child. Despite this, he knows that he needs to succeed, and he credits his mother for helping him get to where he is now.

Towards the end of the song, Maal mentions a man named Lekan who is "about to go in," implying that he is about to take on a challenge or embark on a new journey. This adds to the overall theme of the song, which is one of empowerment and determination. Maal is urging his listeners, especially the women, to keep pushing forward and making strides towards their goals, no matter how hard things may seem.

Overall, "African Woman" is a call to action and a celebration of the strength and resilience of women in Africa.

Line by Line Meaning

yeah!
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement.

big ups to all the African women
Applauding and showing respect to all the hardworking African women.

doing their things all up in the streets
Acknowledging the strong presence of African women in public spaces, doing what they need to do to survive and thrive.

shout out to my mum who raised me
Giving a special shout-out to his mother, who provided him with the love and guidance he needed to grow up and succeed.

I know I been a bad kid,
Admitting to past mistakes and misbehavior.

but you know man's gotta blow at the end of the day
Explaining that despite his missteps, he still has aspirations and goals to achieve.

shout out to Lekan who's about to go in
Giving encouragement and recognition to his friend Lekan, who is preparing to make a big move or accomplish something significant.

(Leks, let's get it).
Using informal language to express further support and eagerness for Lekan's success.

Writer(s): Baaba Maal

Contributed by Elijah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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