“I’m what I call ‘rock ‘n’ love’”, she tells Reuters Africa Journal when asked how she herself would categorize her music. “It’s not rock ‘n’ roll because I don’t go silly drinking or taking drugs, but I’m really rock, so I’m ‘rock ‘n’ love’.”
Inna Modja released her debut album, “Everyday is a new world” in France in October 2009 and her first video, “Mr. H”, shows all the hallmarks of a pop princess and has enjoyed a lot of play on French TV stations.
Born in Mali, she lived in Nigeria, Togo and the USA with her diplomat parents before making Paris her home when she was 18. “I like my life in Paris,” she says. “I love my friends, people close to me – my daily life is very important to me. But in Bamako I have my family – this big town full of energy. I love the market and I love to walk along the banks of the river Niger.” Legendary world musician Salif Keita is one of her mentors. Inna Modja sang back-up for his band, the “Bamako Rail Band” before she decided to go solo.
In spite of the close ties that she maintains to her home country, Modja’s music is definitely a departure from what we usually think of as World Music or “African sound”. But then, what is African sound? And should upcoming African musicians like Inna Modja embrace influences from all over the world; or should they be ambassadors of their own musical heritage?
Bamako, Mali
Let's go to Bamako
Inna Modja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll step out the border
Stop beeing just clubbers
We'll fly to antoher place than Ibiza
where everbody'd live and care for the others
and life is much cooler
I can feel deep love across the seas
So u and me
Let's go to Bamako
Let's go to Bamako
We're taking a chance to clean up
Our past and frozen Karma
We need a loving shelter
We're gonna do some Yoga
And dance in Africa
Where everbody's live in peace
and a neighbor is not just a stranger
I can see the stardsup in the sky
Teel u and me
Let's go to Bamako
Let's go to Bamako
We're gonna take some time for celebration
From Rio de Janeiro to San Diego
Community is sharing love and joy
Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, Bamako again
Let's go to Bamako OH OH OH
Let's go to Bamako OH OH OH
Bamako I ni sogoma
Bamako I ni sogoma
The lyrics of Inna Modja's song Let's Go to Bamako are about the desire to escape the typical partying and materialism of popular tourist destinations, such as Ibiza, and instead travel to a place where people care for one another and live in peace. The song speaks to the need for a change of pace and a break from the stress of modern life, suggesting that a visit to Bamako, the capital and largest city of Mali, could offer the perfect solution. The act of packing to travel to somewhere new, where one can experience deeper connections with others and one's surroundings, is a powerful metaphor for the transformative potential of travel.
The first verse encourages listeners to step out of the comfort zone of clubbing in familiar tourist destinations and into a new adventure. The second verse emphasizes the need to leave behind past traumas and negative energy and seek refuge in a place where one can focus on healing and finding inner peace through yoga and dance. Throughout the song, Inna Modja expresses a belief in the power of global community to bring joy, love, and celebration to all.
Overall, Let's Go to Bamako is a call to action for people to resist the allure of commercialized tourism and instead choose to immerse themselves in new cultures, connect with others, and find a deeper sense of belonging and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
We're packing our suites to travel
We are preparing our belongings to embark on a journey
We'll step out the border
We will cross the border and leave our comfort zone
Stop being just clubbers
We will stop solely partying and focus on other types of experiences
We'll fly to another place than Ibiza
We will go to a different location than the popular vacation spot of Ibiza
where everybody'd live and care for the others
We are seeking a place where people live and demonstrate compassion towards one another
and life is much cooler
The lifestyle and general atmosphere of the chosen destination is appealing
I can feel deep love across the seas
The connection felt towards the potential destination is felt intensely
So u and me
The travelers are going together
Let's go to Bamako
The chosen destination is Bamako
We're taking a chance to clean up
The travelers are taking the opportunity to improve their minds and hearts
Our past and frozen Karma
This describes negative energy that the travelers are hoping to release
We need a loving shelter
A compassionate community or physical dwelling is necessary
We're gonna do some Yoga
The travelers plan on practicing yoga for mental and physical health purposes
And dance in Africa
The travelers will have fun and express themselves through movement in African culture
Where everybody's live in peace
The travelers want to be in an environment of harmony with others
and a neighbor is not just a stranger
The travelers seek a community where everyone is familiar and friendly
I can see the stardsup in the sky
The night sky is clear and the stars are visible
Teel u and me
The travelers discuss their shared experience and excitement of being there together
We're gonna take some time for celebration
The travelers plan to enjoy themselves and participate in festive events
From Rio de Janeiro to San Diego
Different cities around the world are mentioned as potential places to visit for celebration
Community is sharing love and joy
The travelers hope to connect with the community and experience joy together
Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, Bamako again
The travelers are considering multiple destinations including returning to Bamako
Let's go to Bamako OH OH OH
The chorus repeats the desire to visit Bamako
Bamako I ni sogoma
This is a Bambara phrase meaning that Bamako is a city where you can learn a lot
Writer(s): Fanta Bocoum, Loic le Devehat
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.