Oh Africa
by Akon

Album: Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album (2010)
Charted: 56
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a charity single recorded by Akon for a Pepsi football TV commercial. The song is part of the brand's worldwide campaign "Refresh Your World." Proceeds from the track went to Akon's charity "Konfident Foundation" for underprivileged African youths.
  • The song features Keri Hilson and the Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa. Akon previously collaborated with Hilson on "Change Me," a track from her 2009 album In A Perfect World….
  • Footballers Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Kaká, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Frank Lampard and Andrei Arshavin are featured in the Music Video, which was helmed by renowned clips director Gil Green. "The whole aura of it is so fun, the color, the painting and the drums," Akon commented on the video shoot. "It brings out all the cultural parts of Africa you can ever think of and it doesn't even seem like a video, it seems more like a work of art that just happens to be a video."

Comments: 1

  • Naseer Bin Awwal from Kano, Nigeria Nice one
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.