‘I don’t know why we go to war! We just do!’
Rachel Brew is a Sociology and Politics student at Sheffield Univeristy.
Before knowing anything:
This is the most repetitive piece I have ever heard in my life. And 9 minutes of it. I don’t know why we go to war! I don’t know okay, we just do! But I suppose that incessant repetitive nature was effective because I will never… Ever… Forget the question in the song. I’m assuming, by their accents alone, that the piece was African? I’ve never heard of African Disco but it didn’t sound much like the disco that I am used to, it had a very distinct African influence to it and that’s perhaps because of the instruments which were used, including what sounded to me like a synthesiser? I’m also glad it’s in English because after last time I just didn’t understand what was going on. I just wish there had been more lyrics to the song, because I might have been able to become involved in the song if I was provided with more information as opposed to the simple question: why go to war?
After being informed:
In all honesty, I don’t feel as though I’ve learnt all that much more about the song… I am slightly surprised that it isn’t more popular in Nigeria as it has the same tone as Free Nelson Mandela and came out around the same time. I can completely understand why it isn’t popular in England and America though, it doesn’t resonate with any of the kind of music that is listened to here and it’s politically active message might be too much for many to handle – particularly as it’s not our own political message. I hate to say it, but we’re not interested in anything that doesn’t concern us… And in 1979, Nigeria didn’t concern us.