Alif Naaba sings for a better world in Gomdé

18 Dec 2019 - 11:58

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Of all the attributes that set Alif Naaba apart – his versatility and fusion of different genres of music – point to his connection with humanity and its many cultures.

Alif Naaba.

In 2015, the Burkinabe musician released ‘Et Maintenant’ (Times Are Changing) – an awareness song on climate change. He emphasised that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. At the time, it was easy to ignore what was happening but today most agree that climate change is here. It's also questionable whether we can reverse its effects. But there is one thing that we can try to control: human suffering.

All over the world people experience anguish the same way when faced with war, exploitation and violence. Naaba says that as political leaders play their part, artists should also be at the forefront to do more in mobilising people to live up to their central duty: to help protect those in dire need. “We truly ought to make the world a better place by fighting for the broken and the lonely,” he tells Music In Africa.

This is a message that he extends in ‘Gomdé’. The song is a dark testament to the desperate human need for security, especially in Burkina Faso, which has experienced countless terror attacks by jihadist groups. The attacks began in Mali before spreading to the northern region of Burkina Faso.

‘Gomdé’ is an anti-terror anthem and comes at a time when continual power shifts and terrorist attacks have led to the loss of life in Burkina Faso, where more than 500 people have been killed since 2015. The UN humanitarian information source Relief Web reported in July 2019 that the number of those displaced had risen from 50 000 in December 2018 to 270 000 in August, with the young and old most affected.

With power, emotion and sheer vocal strength, Naaba drops powerful lines in the Mooré language. "Where are we going to go with the weapons crackling everywhere? Where are we going to go if humanity no longer exists? Where are we going to go in such an uncertain world? Those were powerful thought-provoking questions. In the end, it's up to us to provide the answers for ourselves,” he sings.

The terror attacks have not only claimed the lives of civilians, as ‘Gomdé’ also celebrates the courage of the country’s soldiers who have been killed. Naaba sympathises with wives and children who were left behind: “My message is also to the police to whom I wish a lot of courage. It is important to acknowledge the sacrifices they continue to make. That’s true humanity.”

The video for ‘Gomdé’ was filmed at multiple locations in Grand-Bassam, a seaside town near the city of Abidjan in Ivory Coast. "I initially wanted to shoot in the northern region of Burkina Faso, but with the current situation, it was not possible. I chose Grand-Bassam for two reasons. The first was because terrorists attacked it in 2016. The second reason was that the town has old colonial buildings, which I knew would offer great pictures.”

The video also features celebrated Ivorian chorographer Kipre Zadi Landry who is seen dancing away the emotional heft of the lyrics in slow motion. The rest of the characters in the video portray to the viewer what could continue to occur if no steps are taken to resolve conflict in Burkina Faso.

‘Gomdé’ is the first single off Naaba's fifth album So Wok (Long Course), which will be released in the first quarter of 2020. It follows Yiki (Get Up ), released in 2013.

Buy ‘Gomdé’ here.