By Trey McAdams
While nearly all of the songs discussed in this course were either written or composed by native African artists, it is important to remember that the politic conflicts of one state can be felt throughout the globe. This allows an individual who is thousands of miles away to empathize with a group of people that he or she has never directly communicated with and turn that empathy into a powerful musical artifact. Such is the case of Eddy Grant’s 1988 hit, “Gimme Hope Jo’anna.”
Grant, a Guyanese British Musician who held no direct ties to South Africa, realized the hardships placed on native Africans and sought to bring greater awareness to the subject. The song is set to a powerful reggae anthem beat, and uses its verses to educate the listener on the negative impacts of the apartheid system. The chorus, which simply repeats the title of the song, may seem to the naked ear that Grant is calling on the help of a woman named Jo’anna. However, the name is actually a reference to the capital of South Africa, Johannesburg, and symbolizes Grant’s call on the South African government to abandon the apartheid system and “let everyone live as one.”
Given the nature of the song and the government’s reputation for heavy censorship, “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” quickly became banned in South Africa. Despite this ban, the reggae anthem quickly became both an anthem for those struggling under apartheid as well as an educational tool for those still ignorant to its existence. Grant’s success demonstrated that the coextensive moment between music and politics is not bound borders and has the potential to affect individuals across the globe.
Grant, a Guyanese British Musician who held no direct ties to South Africa, realized the hardships placed on native Africans and sought to bring greater awareness to the subject. The song is set to a powerful reggae anthem beat, and uses its verses to educate the listener on the negative impacts of the apartheid system. The chorus, which simply repeats the title of the song, may seem to the naked ear that Grant is calling on the help of a woman named Jo’anna. However, the name is actually a reference to the capital of South Africa, Johannesburg, and symbolizes Grant’s call on the South African government to abandon the apartheid system and “let everyone live as one.”
Given the nature of the song and the government’s reputation for heavy censorship, “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” quickly became banned in South Africa. Despite this ban, the reggae anthem quickly became both an anthem for those struggling under apartheid as well as an educational tool for those still ignorant to its existence. Grant’s success demonstrated that the coextensive moment between music and politics is not bound borders and has the potential to affect individuals across the globe.
