Sankofa
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


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Oh Sankofa, high on the Heavens you soar
My soul is soon to follow you, back to yesterdays moon
Will it remember me?
Back to yesterdays sun, It will rekindle me
Rekindle the spirit into tomorrow and high on the wind
Sankofa flys again and again

Oh Sankofa, high on the Heavens you soar
My soul is soon to follow you, back to yesterdays moon
Will it remember me?
Back to yesterdays sun, It will rekindle me
Rekindle the spirit into tomorrow and high on the wind
Sankofa flys again and again

Oh Sankofa, high on the Heavens you soar
My soul is soon to follow you, back to yesterdays moon
Will it remember me?
Back to yesterdays sun, It will rekindle me




Rekindle the spirit into tomorrow and high on the wind
Sankofa flys again and again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cassandra Wilson's song "Sankofa" seem to be an ode to the concept of Sankofa, which is a term and symbol from Akan cultures of West Africa, specifically Ghana. It refers to the idea of looking back to one's past in order to move forward into the future. This concept is often represented by a bird with its feet facing forward and its head turned backward, symbolizing the idea of moving forward while remembering and honoring one's past.


In the song, Wilson seems to be addressing the bird itself, praising it for its ability to soar high above and encouraging it to lead her back to the past. She wonders if her soul will be remembered by the past, and she hopes that it will rekindle her spirit and bring her into the future with confidence and grace.


The repeated lines of the song, "Sankofa flys again and again," give a sense of continuity and cyclical movement, suggesting that the process of looking back in order to move forward is an ongoing one. Overall, Wilson's lyrics seem to be a beautiful and evocative celebration of this powerful and important concept.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh Sankofa, high on the Heavens you soar
Addressing the entity 'Sankofa,' said to be flying high above in the heavens.


My soul is soon to follow you, back to yesterdays moon
The singer's soul is said to soon follow Sankofa back to a time long past.


Will it remember me?
The singer is questioning if Sankofa or the past they will soon revisit will have any memory of them.


Back to yesterdays sun, It will rekindle me
Returning to the past through Sankofa will reignite the artist's spirit and passion.


Rekindle the spirit into tomorrow and high on the wind
The renewed spirit and energy obtained by revisiting the past will propel the artist forward into the future.


Sankofa flys again and again
Sankofa is able to repeatedly soar through time, leading others to explore and remember the past.




Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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