“Leaving is not the only solution,” says the Wassoulou legendary singer to the Malian youth.
Nahawa Doumbia will release her new album this fall on Awesome Tapes From Africa, Kanawa (don’t go). The meaning of the title is so simple. The Malian singer begs the youth not to leave the continent to end with the human tragedy of illegal immigration. She calls African leaders and the united nations to coordinate efforts to find a solution, to create jobs for them so that young people stop leaving. Indeed, over the past decade International migration from countries in sub-Saharan Africa has grown dramatically including to Europe and the United States.
“Many of our children die in the ocean and some of them while crossing the Sahara. Some climb over the wires across the borders and they have gotten shot. But I ask them why do they leave their country? They said that they leave because of the family situation or problems, poverty, and unemployment. We told them if ever they are to leave, they should privilege legal ways.”
Nahawa Doumbia
Produced by N’Gou Bagayoko — who also produced La grande cantatrice malienne vol.1 Nahawa’s debut album reissued last year on Awesome Tapes From Africa, Kanawa includes 8 original songs and was recorded in Mali at Salif Keita’s Moffou Studio between 2018 to 2020.
Kanawa will be released on January 29th on a vinyl/record LP and in digital format via Awesome Tapes From Africa.
