Africa Is a Country

The ANC Goes Pop

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African Five-a-Side Podcast

The ANC Goes Pop

By
Sean Jacobs

Political parties in South Africa have a new challenge during elections: commissioning a pop ditty people can dance to while political candidates make empty promises from stages.

Jubilant crowds listening to the speech of President Nelson Mandela. 10/May/1994. UN photo credit Sattleberger.

In May 2011, South Africans go to the polls to vote for representatives to serve on new municipal councils. With few surprises, the result should be predictable. The ANC, with exceptions in the Western Cape and parts of Kwazulu Natal, dominates at the local level. Political parties are deep in campaign mode. This includes coming up with catchy campaign songs; commissioning something people can dance to while political candidates make empty promises from the stage. The verdict during the national elections two years ago was mixed.

The ruling ANC is first out of the gate with a kwaito tune with the meaningless title: “Together we can build better communities.” If the tune sounds and the video looks familiar, it is because it is the work of kwaito producer Arthur Mafokate, whose songs sound like they were composed by a computer program and whose roster of mainly female artists – in this case, Chomee – usually make up for deficient vocal skills with gyrations and short skirts. Here‘s a translation of the lyrics. Usually, I am a sucker for pop-infused election music, but I am not moved by these empty platitudes.

But that’s not the end of it. Now the provincial ANC in Gauteng province plan to launch its own version of the Pop Idol franchise. Serious. And the party would prefer that competitors sing songs about the liberation struggle not about their terrible life under ANC rule.

According to the ANC: “…This initiative is based on what young people of all races have said they want.”

As a friend remarked: I am sure that the number one priority for the youth of all races is another pop star. I can’t imagine what other needs are unfulfilled.

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