Africans
Nneka Lyrics


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Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
You keep pushing the blame on our colonial fathers
You say they came and they took all we had possessed
They have to take the abuse that they have caused
Our present state with their intruding history
Use our goodness and nourishment in the name of missionary
Lied to us blind slaved us misplaced us
Strengthen us hardened us then they replaced us
Now we got to learn from pain
Now it is up to us to gain some recognition
If we stop blaming we could get a better condition
Wake up world

Wake up world wake up and stop sleeping
Wake up Africa wake up and stop blaming
Open your eyes eyes stand up and rise
Road block oh life penalty

Sing why do we want to remain where we started
And how long do we want to stop yourselves from thinking
We should learn from experience that what we are here for this existence
But now we decide to use the same hatred to suppress our own brothers
It is so comfortable to say
Racism is the cause and it's not the cause
This time it is the same color chasing and biting us
Knowledge and selfishness that they gave to us
This is what we use to abuse us

Wake up world wake up and stop sleeping
Wake up Africa wake up and stop blaming
Open your eyes your eyes stand up and rise
Road block oh life penalty
Those who have ears let them hear
Brothers who are not brainwashed take ruins and rest
Pick them up and stick them back together
This is the only way we can change this African weather

Lied to us blind us they slaved us misplaced us
Strengthen us hardened us then they replaced us
Now we got to learn from pain
Wake up world wake up and stop sleeping
Wake up Africa wake up and stop blaming
Open your eyes your eyes stand up and rise
Road block road block
You got to wake up please
Wake up world wake up and stop sleeping
You got to wake up Africa you got to see the truth wake up and stop blaming
Oh oh oh oh open yours eyes open up you should open up




You should open up stand up and rise
Road block road block oh life penalty wake up

Overall Meaning

In Nneka's song "African," she speaks about the legacy of colonialism in Africa and how it has affected the continent's current state. She notes that many Africans tend to blame their colonial fathers for taking everything they had possessed, causing the suffering and pain they experience today. However, Nneka urges Africans to stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for their current situation. She criticizes the use of Christianity and missionary work as a tool for exploitation, and points out that Africans have the power to change their situation by learning from their experiences.


The artist encourages her fellow Africans to be proactive and take charge of their future by standing up and rising, despite the many roadblocks in their way. She warns them against using the same hatred and prejudice that they have suffered under to suppress their brothers, and emphasizes the importance of unity, brotherhood, and love. Nneka's passionate call to action encourages listeners worldwide to wake up from their slumber and take responsibility for their lives, their communities, and their world.


Line by Line Meaning

You keep pushing the blame on our colonial fathers
Nneka criticizes blaming colonial fathers for the issues faced by African nations, rather than holding present-day leaders accountable.


You say they came and they took all we had possessed
Nneka refers to the exploitation of African resources, such as minerals and human labor, by colonial powers.


They have to take the abuse that they have caused
Nneka suggests that former colonial powers bear responsibility for the damage they caused to African nations through exploitation and subjugation.


Our present state with their intruding history
Nneka notes that Africa's colonial past has affected its current state of development and politics.


Use our goodness and nourishment in the name of missionary
Nneka critiques religious missions that exploited African culture and people, rather than truly helping them.


Lied to us blind slaved us misplaced us
Nneka condemns the lies and subjugation that Africans faced at the hands of colonial powers.


Strengthen us hardened us then they replaced us
Nneka notes that former colonial powers exploited Africans for their own purposes, rather than genuinely empowering them or building their nations.


Now we got to learn from pain
Nneka advocates for learning from past experiences of subjugation and exploitation to forge a better future.


Now it is up to us to gain some recognition
Nneka urges Africans to gain recognition for their own contributions and worth, rather than relying on the validation of former colonial powers.


If we stop blaming we could get a better condition
Nneka suggests that moving beyond blaming colonial powers for Africa's problems could be the first step in creating positive change.


Wake up world
Nneka calls for a global awakening to the issues faced by African nations.


Wake up world wake up and stop sleeping
Nneka urges people around the world to become more aware of and take action on issues faced by African nations.


Wake up Africa wake up and stop blaming
Nneka encourages Africans to move beyond blaming colonial powers for their issues and focus on creating positive change in their own communities.


Open your eyes eyes stand up and rise
Nneka calls for African people to become more aware of the issues around them and to rise up to create positive change.


Road block oh life penalty
Nneka highlights the obstacles and difficulties faced by African nations in achieving progress and change.


Sing why do we want to remain where we started
Nneka asks why African nations are content remaining in the same difficult position, rather than pushing for progress and change.


And how long do we want to stop ourselves from thinking
Nneka calls for Africans to become more reflective and thoughtful about their current state of affairs, rather than accepting the status quo as unchangeable.


We should learn from experience that what we are here for this existence
Nneka advocates for learning from past experiences in order to make positive change and fulfill the purpose of existence more fully.


But now we decide to use the same hatred to suppress our own brothers
Nneka criticizes internal conflicts within African nations, where people use others' differences to create hate and division, rather than working together towards progress.


It is so comfortable to say
Nneka points out the ease with which people can blame others for issues, rather than taking responsibility and working towards improving the situation.


Racism is the cause and it's not the cause
Nneka suggests that while racism may be a factor in Africa's issues, it is not the only issue or the underlying cause of the problems.


This time it is the same color chasing and biting us
Nneka notes that Africans face challenges from their own communities and governments, rather than only from outside forces.


Knowledge and selfishness that they gave to us
Nneka condemns the knowledge and practices that colonial powers imposed on Africans, which often prioritized the colonizers' own interests over those of African people.


This is what we use to abuse us
Nneka points out how African people can unwittingly perpetuate the same harmful systems and practices that they were taught under colonialism.


Those who have ears let them hear
Nneka calls on people to be open to hearing the truth and to actively seek out knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by African nations.


Brothers who are not brainwashed take ruins and rest
Nneka urges Africans to reject the ideas and practices that have been imposed on them and instead to rest on their own cultural knowledge and traditions.


Pick them up and stick them back together
Nneka encourages Africans to focus on coming together and rebuilding their communities in the face of past traumas and difficulties.


This is the only way we can change this African weather
Nneka suggests that unity and rebuilding are the keys to changing the difficult conditions facing African nations today.


You got to wake up please
Nneka implores people to become more aware and take action towards creating positive change in Africa.


You got to see the truth wake up and stop blaming
Nneka urges Africans to confront the root causes of their issues and work towards creating positive change, rather than blaming former colonial powers.


Oh oh oh oh open yours eyes open up you should open up
Nneka encourages people to become more aware and open-minded in order to create positive change.


Stand up and rise
Nneka calls on Africans to become more empowered and stand up for themselves, rather than continuing to suffer in silence.


Road block road block oh life penalty wake up
Nneka highlights the obstacles and difficulties facing African nations and emphasizes the need for action and change.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SVEN WAJE, FARHAD SAMADZADA, NNEKA-LUCIA EGBUNA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@anneblack6899

OH. MY. GOD. IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU FOR YEARS. I COULDN’T REMEMBER THE NAME. IVE BEEN LOOKING SINCE YOU RELEASED THE SONG OH. MY. GOD. IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU FOR YEARS. I COULDN’T REMEMBER THE NAME. IVE BEEN LOOKING SINCE YOU RELEASED THE SONG HEARTBEAT. I can’t believe I finally found you. OMG I can’t express how fucking stoked and happy I am.

@purpleloft8466

YO I KNOWW! Like I'm soo Hella obsessed with nneka's music, it's at the point where I just need to have an entire conversation about her to somebody ANYBODY like pa-LEASE this girl is amazing! I need more people to listen to her music. Listen to her truth. Wow!

@glinmaa5500

Mi soulful Queen 👑 🖤 🎶 🙌🏾❤

@mrgelato6110

I remember this 😢

Big Love Nneka ❤️

@rastaloveint

Long time we a play this chune ! One Love !

@2112shadowmoon

Nneka did just reshare a masterpiece

@purpleloft8466

Yes she did😌❤

@blazbeuermann2554

High note barbarian! Luvli xo

@fyahkoal

thanks for some roots to my soul sista. sending love from the caribean to the motherland AFRICA🥰🥰🥰

@abdoulayetandia2175

She is pretty and evry time fight for the rise of Africa god bless this young lady love her deeply

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