
The Zangalewa song was an extremely popular African anthem throughout the late 80s and 90s. Inspiring dance troupes and musicians across many African countries. Here are a few things you may or may not have known about the hit.
Meaning of the song’s name
The meaning of Zangalewa is “who called you/ Who forced you to do this or that is” from the Endowo dialect of Cameroon. Lyrically the song referenced the tough times a soldier faces after joining the army asking the suffering recruit: “Who forced you/called you?”.
From Golden Sounds Band to Zangalewa
Jean Paul Zé Bella, Dooh Belley, Luc Eyebe and Emile Kojidie who were actually members of the Cameroonian Presidential Guard. The four were just some of the members of the band Golden Sounds. Once it was released, the song grew so popular that the band changed their name to Zangalewa.
It uses multiple languages
The song was written in Endowo, Pidgin English, Fang and even french and many versions of the pronounciations exist. It became popular across Africa and was performed for entertainment by dance troupes, army bands and schools. In Kenya, is was not unheard of to come across Zangalewa dance troupes who even dressed and acted out the song.
It was a protest song
It’s marching rhythm and call and response style may have made it a popular African anthem but the song goes deeper. Zangalewa was written as a tribute to African soldiers who fought in World War 2 and also as a satirical take on colonialism and Africans who sided with colonialism — this can be seen in the video where the performers don pith helmets and white washed faces.
Shakira controversy
Sony Music rushed to settle an out of court settlement with the original Zangalewa band after Singer Shakira used the lyrics and tune for World Cup song Waka Waka. In an interview the Hips Don’t Lie singer erroneously claimed to have written the song.
Recommended reading:
https://www.musiques-afrique.net/cameroon/art-goldensounds.html
https://afropop.org/articles/anatomy-of-a-song-zangalewa-from-african-protest-into-multiplatinum-pop
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/what-1986-cameroonian-song-zangalewa.html