Obama picks song by West African all-female band

The former President of the United States posted a list of his favourite songs and books on his Facebook page, continuing a custom he began while at the White House. 

“During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists,” he wrote as introduction to his list on the last day of 2017.

“It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world. With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most. From songs that got me moving to stories that inspired me, here's my 2017 list — I hope you enjoy it and have a happy and healthy New Year.”

Among the list were songs by African American acts Kendrick Lamar as well as Chance the Rapper and Jay-Z. Les Amazones d’Afrique made the list with ‘La Dame et Ses Valises’, a song which translates to "The lady and her suitcases" and features the Nigerian singer Nneka.

‘La Dame et Ses Valises’ is taken from Republique Amazone, the first album by Les Amazones d’Afrique, a super-group comprised of 12 female singers from West Africa, including Nigerian songstress Nneka, Beninese Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo, Mamani Keita and Kandia Kouyate. (Oumou Sangaré, who had been part of the initial trio of Malian women— Doumbia, Keïta and Sangaré—who thought up the idea in 2014, dropped out of the project.) The group was forged around a desire to "stop violence against women not only in the African continent but also in the rest of the world", according to Valerie Malot, the group's manager. 

In October of 2015, the group played its first concert in Marseille, France, and Republique Amazones was released in 2017. The album's appearance on Obama's list continues the album's acceptance by the west. The Guardian deemed the album as having a "restless, infectious energy". The Financial Times in a mixed review noted that "the bounce and pulse [of the album] are undeniable". The Rolling Stone deemed the collaboration on the album "hard-funking [and] future-minded". 

Although the album might be seen as a feminist project, Malot called the album "a love letter to men". And Angelique Kidjo said that while she sings "about the beauty and strength of women, and about how women together can help everybody see a different perspective on society"  she does not "believe in any feminism without men being part of this discussion." 

"If women thrive, men will too," she said.

Listen to ‘La Dame et Ses Valises’ below: