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If you hadn’t noticed, Africa is hot right now. As the birthplace of humankind, we can argue that it always was. But these days, with African fashion being pushed to the forefront of runways and its ever-present influence in our music, and the [slight] push for Black folk, across the diaspora, to know and understand our roots, Africa is getting just a mere fraction of the acknowledgement and praise it deserves. Again, cradle of civilization.
But it’s a slow build.
And Joel Ryan, a Ghanaian-UK writer, and founder of SpiceUKOnline brought that undeniable fact to the light in his think piece that simply asked a question.
Why don’t more African American artists include Africa in their world tours? In fact, the official title of the piece was “Unapologetically Black But Won’t Tour in Africa…Hmmm”
“Love all these American and even British artists using African influences in hair, clothes, music and more. It is so inspiring and makes me so proud to be black, so proud to be African and it really is changing the game. But when was the last time they went? And no, I don’t mean when was the last time they gave money or the last time they went to Uganda to take pictures. I mean when was the last time they went to perform and really showcase their talent which Africa has so heavily influenced? Celebrities and artists who go on “world” tours only seem to go to western countries even when their musical production, choreography, lyrics and costume are heavily influenced by African countries.”
While Ryan said South Africa is a lovely country, one tour date there is simply not enough when there are 53 other countries.
He continued:
“I can’t get my head around it. I can imagine artists sitting there in a board meeting discussing dates and places and I don’t get how a whole continent can get missed out. A WHOLE CONTINENT. If you like your cornrow (Kim K Boxer-Braids), African print, afros and your negro nose, there are plenty of them in Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Angola, Tunisia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and many other countries.”
I initially stumbled across the piece on Clutch, and thought, from the title, it was a very valid question. But the author of the piece seemed to believe otherwise. Not only did she, (I’m assuming), believe that there were Black artists who had traveled to the continent recently. (To be fair, Chris Brown broke records in Morocco. And in Ryan’s defense, he included a picture of Brown’s concert in his piece as an argument for touring in Africa.) She mentioned that instead of questioning the artists, Ryan should direct his confusion and inquiry at the entertainment companies like Live Nation, who are the ones who choose the locations and finance these artists’ events.
It’s a valid point. But I also wonder how many artists, Black artists specifically, are even mentioning Africa when they sit down to choose locations for their “World Tour.” And if they do suggest it, which excuses from Live Nation do the artists accept that prevent them from ultimately going? Because at this point in the game, there isn’t enough data and there haven’t been enough examples of big-named artists performing in Africa for any of those excuses to be valid. We can’t really say what the turnout would be. But Ryan says when Church Crusades in Africa can draw upwards of 30,000 people, there’s no reason an artist who the people love wouldn’t be able to do the same.
To be honest, I think the lack of Black artists touring in African countries might have quite a bit to do with Live Nation executives and their beliefs and views about Africa. We live in America and we know how the whole entire continent, is painted, by the media, with the broad brush of being completely poverty-stricken. And with some of the greatest resources, natural and man-made, in the world, that’s just not true.
The Clutch writer also took issue with the fact that South Africa was discounted in this discussion. But I think that is also a valid point as well. With European rule still prominent and prevalent in the country until the early ’90’s, the country still enjoys a level of privilege not extended to other African nations. Not to mention that most of the Black people of the Diaspora have roots in West Africa. Out of respect, there should be a couple of stops on that coast for our cousins.
What do you think about Ryan’s piece? Does he raise a good point?
