Tope Bwana
La Polla Records Lyrics

The song "Tope Bwana" by La Polla Records is a commentary on the exploitation of African people during the period of colonialism. The lyrics are a conversation between a white colonialist, referred to as "Bwana" (the Swahili word for boss or master), and a Black person, possibly a slave or a local whose land has been colonized. The lyrics keep repeating the same question, "¿Gozas, negro?" (Do you enjoy it, Black person?), followed by the response, "En las chozas" (In the huts), implying that the Black person is living in poverty and squalor while the colonizers enjoy their wealth and privilege.

The chorus, "Es una historia muy africana/ zumo de negro a la americana" (It's a very African story/ Black juice in the American style) refers to the way in which the colonialists took resources from Africa to the Americas, exploiting the labour of enslaved Black people while enriching themselves. The song uses the Swahili term "Bwana" as well as the African rhythm and chanting to create a powerful critique of colonialism, portraying the colonizers as cruel, oppressive, and indifferent to the suffering of those they subjugated.