dM, Black Scorpion & 2Zee

Wild youth releases

Ana Africi Ana Sudani (I'm African, I'm Sudanese)  / Instrumental

Wild Youth (WYD004) - 2020

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After a serious hiatus from label activities and an extended time living in Sudan by the banks of the river Nile, Philly B is back to introduce 3 Sudanese MC’s from Omdurman and Khartoum. DM, Black Scorpion and 2Zee lace this stripped back hip hop reworking of a classic Sudanese hit, originally sung by Ibrahim Alkashif in the 1950’s. As with the original song, our offering proudly celebrates Sudanese African identity; a revolutionary statement in the face of the last 30 years of dictatorship which has seen the country carved up and separated from the south on ethnic and religious lines.

The 11th April is a significant date to release this record – one year to the day that the Sudanese people filled the streets at the military HQ in the heart of the capital Khartoum, to celebrate the downfall of tyrant dictator Omar el Bashir and the hope of return to democratic civilian rule in Sudan. The famous ‘Algyada’ sit-in had begun since the 7th of April; 2 months occupying a huge space in front of the military HQ. It was there that Philly recorded the melody to ‘I’m African, I’m Sudanese’ when the Sudanese music community hit the streets in procession with instruments in tow, playing anthems and slogans of the revolution in support for the sit-in.

The track begins with the question: “what is your waton?” A difficult concept to translate to English but a question that every Sudanese can answer. ‘Waton’ refers somehow to nationhood, but it is much more than a geopolitical concept – it is social and psychological and is reflected in everyday interactions in Sudanese society. It encapsulates community, generosity, nostalgia and and is expressed in the unbending pride of the Sudanese people. In Sudan you belong to your waton before you can say you come from a region, before you represent a town, a neighbourhood, before your family or even yourself.

Our version of ‘Ana Africi, Ana Sudani’ is an expression of Sudanese identity voiced by these 3 young MC’s at this cross roads in Sudanese history. Enjoy this record and share it; you can be sure someone you know won’t have any clue about this vast ancient land in East Africa called Sudan, much less of the Hip Hop they’re exporting.