Kiwanuka grew up in Muswell Hill, London, the son of Ugandan parents who had escaped the Amin regime. He attended Fortismere School, leaving there in 2005 after completing his A-Levels. He went on to study at the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster.
Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist, playing with Chipmunk and Bashy, before working as a solo artist; his first proper gig was at The Oxford, Kentish Town. He came to the attention of Communion Records, which released his first two EPs, including his debut Tell Me A Tale on 13 June 2011.
Kiwanuka supported Adele on her Adele Live 2011 tour, as well at her iTunes Festival 2011 gig and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling.
In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records. He was included in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and was named as the winner on 6 January 2012. In June 2012, he was illustrated in a BBC article regarding Spain vis-à-vis Uganda during the Eurozone crisis; his putative counterpart was actress Penélope Cruz.
In July 2016, he performed at the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park on the same day as Carole King and Don Henley.
The 5th prestigious HiPipo Music Awards will honor Michael Kiwanuka with the award of "Best Global Act" in recognition and celebration of his ‘Love & Hate’ album success and musical accomplishments since his 2012 debut album "Home Again".
His song "Cold Little Heart" serves as the opening theme for the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies.
Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Jack Johnson, Pops Staples, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Wham!, Richie Havens and Funkadelic, he has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.
Black Man In A White World
Michael Kiwanuka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been told all my life
I've got nothing left to pray
I've got nothing left to say
All the black men in a white world
All the black men in a white world
All the black men in a white world
I'm in love but I'm still sad
I've found peace but I'm not glad
All my nights and all my days
I've been trying the wrong way
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I feel like I've been here before
I feel that knocking on my door
I feel like I've been here before
I feel that knocking on my door
And I've lost everything I had
And I'm not angry and I'm not mad
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I've been low and I've been high
I've been told all my life
I've got nothing here to pray
And I've got nothing left to say
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm in love but I'm still sad
I've found peace but I'm not glad
All my nights and all my days
I've been trying the wrong way
I don't mind who I am (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world))
I don't mind who you are (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world))
I'm not wrong, I'm not wrong (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world))
Oh it's alright, it's alright (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
Oh it's alright (I'm a black man in a white world)
Oh it's alright (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
It's alright (I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world, I'm a black man in a white world)
(I'm a black man in a white world)
The lyrics of "Black Man In A White World" by Michael Kiwanuka express the struggle of being a black man in a white-dominated world. He speaks of feeling lost and conflicted, having been pulled in the wrong direction all along, and being unable to find solace or happiness in his life despite having found peace. He is mindful of his identity, and acknowledges that his being black is a part of him, regardless of where he is or who he interacts with. His opening lines suggest that he has experienced various peaks and troughs over his lifetime, yet none of them has left him wholly fulfilled. He feels that there's nothing left to do but admit to feeling low and keep trying to fight his way through this world that keeps bringing him down.
The repetition of the phrase "all the black men in a white world" speaks to the collective experiences of black men around the world. By repeating the phrase, the song emphasizes the common struggles that they face in a world dominated by white people, no matter where they come from or the color of their skin. He speaks to feeling like he has met a similar predicament before, suggesting that being black in a white world is a recurring experience. He concludes by stating that he is comfortable in his own skin and with who he is, implying that he is ready to take whatever challenges come his way, good or bad, in this imperfect world.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been low, I've been high
I have experienced both successes and failures
I've been told all my life
I have been constantly advised by others
I've got nothing left to pray
I have lost all hope and see no point in praying
I've got nothing left to say
I have nothing new to say or contribute
All the black men in a white world
The black men are living and struggling in a predominantly white society
I'm in love but I'm still sad
Despite having love in my life, I am still unhappy
I've found peace but I'm not glad
Although I have found inner peace, I am not satisfied
All my nights and all my days
In all my waking hours and in my dreams, I am still struggling
I've been trying the wrong way
I have been using the wrong methods to achieve my goals
I'm a black man in a white world
I identify as a member of the Black community in a setting that is dominated by the White community
I feel like I've been here before
I have a sense of familiarity with my current struggles
I feel that knocking on my door
I feel that my challenges are persistently present
And I've lost everything I had
I have lost all that is important to me
And I'm not angry and I'm not mad
Despite my losses, I am not filled with rage or anger
I don't mind who I am
I accept my identity as a Black man
I don't mind who you are
I accept others for who they are, regardless of their race
I'm not wrong, I'm not wrong
I am confident in myself and my values
Oh it's alright, it's alright
Everything will be okay
Oh it's alright
I have hope that things will get better
(I'm a black man in a white world)
Reinforcing the fact that he identifies as a Black man in a predominantly White society
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEAN COVER, MICHAEL SAMUEL KIWANUKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@apathygaming8175
Like all art it's subjective to the viewer for me
How this song touches me is being a literal black man in a white world
A man who's lost his culture
A man who doesn't exactly fit in with the native people of England
Even though I was born here something deep inside makes me feel I don't belong
But it's okay and it's alright
As long as we don't fight we can find peace some how
And maybe somehow I can find peace of mind
But that's what it means to me
A sense of not belonging
Physically, mentally and spiritually
For others It might just be on a mental level
For some maybe spiritually
For others physically
But this song touches me on three levels an amazing song
@lisamarie479
I've been low, I've been high
I've been told all my lies
I've got nothing left to pray
I've got nothing left to say
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm in love, but I'm still sad
I've found peace, but I'm not glad
All my nights and all my days
I've been trying the wrong way
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I feel like I've been here before
I feel that knocking on my door
I feel like I've been here before
I feel that knocking on my door
And I've lost everything I had
And I'm not angry and I'm not mad
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I've been low and I've been high
I've been told all my lies
I've got nothing here to pray
And I've got nothing left to say
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm a black man in a white world
I'm in love, but I'm still sad
I've found peace, but I'm not glad
All my nights and all my days
I've been trying the wrong way
I don't mind who I am
I don't mind who you are
I'm not wrong, I'm not wrong
Oh it's alright, it's alright
Oh it's alright
Oh it's alright, It's alright
@matthewlayford1736
When I heard this on the radio I genuinely thought it was classic soul/rhythm and blues. Think I've found a new favourite sound.
@AlternativeSack123
Check out his debut album
@22Purplemist
It is reminiscent of early soul/RnB - takes me back to my youth. I love this and all his other music I have heard so far :)
@sofiadubenion8594
Me too. I love his voice and clean language.
Race to express who we are, to me is not a subject. We're all humans, good or bad. It is a shame that when we talk about somebody we have to use the color of our skin for some fools to understand who we/they are.
@sallystearns5911
👍👍👍
@johngarcia5657
Michael Kiwanuka is a phenomenal artists. Glad I discovered him.
@Krfran14
he has so much musicality, laden with musical integrity, i hear blues jazz and even deep south louisiana folk. so so proud of this young man with a deep conscious soul. His music is subtlyevocative and evokess and era gone by. Well done michael for fusing both worlds. A modern classic for sure.
@jonas-qp7bo
“i’m in love and i’m still sad” i’ve never related to anything more
@JJ-ct7iy
Sed :(
@lord_is_incredible1800
Who else ...comeback and listen to this after what is happening in 2020😢