This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
Beyoncé's Lion King Album Excludes East Africa ¶
Published on July 22, 2019
Beyoncé's highly anticipated Lion King album has been met with criticism from East African artists and fans, who feel excluded from the project despite the movie's concept being based on Kenyan and Tanzanian scenery.
The album features top international artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, and Childish Gambino, as well as African artists like Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi, and Burna Boy. However, none of the East African artists were included in the project.
Polycarp, a member of the Kenyan band Sauti Sol, expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, 'This is the Lion King 'New Africa' Album with soundtracks of the new Lion King movie. For a movie whose concept is fully based on the Kenyan and Tanzanian scenery, use of Swahili phrases and references, you would think they would at least consider artists from this region and not focus on artists from one country/region.'
Vanessa Mdee, a Tanzanian rapper, also spoke out against the exclusion, stating, 'Hii kitu ni biashara Poly, na waPopo wako na interests zao. Wote wanajua filamu iko set in East Africa na kihalali tungestahili kupata kanafasi, lakini hatuna wanaotuwakilisha huko kwa maExec wa Disney au kwa team ya Beyoncé.'
Victoria Kimani, a Kenyan-Nigerian singer, also expressed her disappointment, stating, 'As much as we celebrate with our fellow Africans, the obvious exclusion of Kenyans and East Africans on this soundtrack is depressing. The movie was based on Kenya.'
The exclusion of East African artists has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many calling for greater representation and ownership of African music.
