"Africa" | Toto
I went into this project wanting very much to form my own opinions without too much influence from Gay’s thoughts. It would be so easy to watch each film and listen to each song, revisit his words, and then frame my experience around his opinion and context. Trouble is I found it very delightful to reflect on a genre he posed that I’ve known but never knew it had a name…kinda racist but. There are no rules here in this delight exploration really, and what joy is there to say so, believe so, and follow so.
Kinda racist but could and should be either a talk show, mini series documentary, podcast! and the first episode could be Toto’s “Africa”.
David Paich wrote the song as a loving homage to the continent of Africa. A combination of a specific horrific image he came across, stories from missionary work at his Catholic school, and chronicles from National Geographic publications led to the notable 80s song. It is catchy as hell and where I start to groove deep, I notice it is with cringed shoulders.
I bless the rains down in Africa
Criiinge. I am not sure a loving homage is best communicated by six white men, none of whom have been on the continent, blessing anything African. The only blessing that makes sense to me, is for Toto to communicate gratitude for their admiration of this beautiful country as the visitors that they are.
I am blessed by the rains down in Africa
And full acknowledgment of the colonialist Christian influence that has hurt many indigenous peoples in the name of God. The blessing is a gift to them, not a gift they bring.
How you put all that in a song, I would leave to the skills of Paich and the others. And finding truth in an edit that exists in my head and heart is significant. The but, because it does exist, really comes into play the way that cringy line floats from the vocal chords. Damn, it floats so good.
[Book of Delights pg. 144 | No. 52 Toto]