This comes from longtime reader Wanumba:
I thought you might be interested in this… Senegal is in a growing crisis, being ignored, but this also may make us think again as to what’s at stake even in our election:
Senegal is in upheaval as the socialist president for the past ten years pushes on for a controversial third term, an unprecedented third mandate that the courts have approved, but the People are saying is unconstitutional. This is a new video produced by well-known Senegal musician and Grammy award-winner Youssou N’Dour, who declared his candidacy for president, but was struck off the ballot by the same courts just a few weeks ago. Senegal is gripped by growing widespread and increasingly violent protests ahead of this Friday’s first round presidential election. N’Dour’s son Phillippe sings this plea to remind people of what this generation of governance has failed to do for the next.
It is a beautiful song. It is sung in Wolof.
The song is sung in Wolof, the primary language of Senegal, the subtitles are in French, so here’s an English translation:
PRESIDENT:
I am writing this letter
and addressing it to the future president of Senegal.
To you who wishes to become my president.
I am writing to you this letter so that I announce to you my hopes.I want abundant clean water
Electricity and less darkness
Good roads and hospitals
Good schools and enough jobsChorus: To you who wishes to become my future president
I write to you this letter
So to you I announce my hopesI want to see the farmer, the herder working
So that that no one will be hungry
And no one will cryWe the children are the future of this country
The building, that is good for us,
The destruction, that is bad for us
Ahead, always ahead.Chorus: To you who wishes to become my future president
I write to you this letter
So to you I announce my hopesI dream of a fast train from Dakar to Zinguinchor.
When will it ever become a reality?
I love Senegal.To you who wishes to become my future president
I write to you this letter
So to you I announce my hopes
What a beautiful song. Let’s hope the socialist tyrant can be removed without too much violence and bloodshed.