—Desmond Tutu, upon his election to Archbishop of Cape Town
—Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Be your best. This is the quest that the greatest of heroes model for us. Through their journeys, struggles, and triumphs, exceptional individuals exemplify values that we celebrate in tales of heroic accomplishment—epics that outlast heroes themselves. Africa’s history abounds with such tales.
Through art, artists tell such stories—stories of the world’s current complexity, but also visions of a world that could yet be. Heroes features a selection of permanent-collection works from the National Museum of African Art that tell the story of key heroic principles and personages in Africa’s arts and history.
Consider the core values of leadership—justice, integrity, generosity, and empathy among them—and the types of leaders represented in the works on view here. You will find that each artwork is also paired with a specific historic African person who embodies the value expressed in the selected work. In Heroes you are invited to discover a wide range of Africa’s heroes—some well-known, others perhaps surprising—and to see art works in new ways.
Heroes expresses the National Museum of African Art’s commitment to the dignity, complexity, and universally accessible excellence of African art history, and to the telling of unique, compelling, and specific historical African stories. The artists assembled here invite us to imagine our roles in building a new future.
Heroes Playlist
… Won’t you help to sing … ?
—Bob Marley and the Wailers, Redemption Song
IGNATIUS SANCHO
Bob Marley and the Wailers – “Redemption Song”
Lyrics by Bob Marley
Uprising. Island Records, 1979
Reggae
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE
Boukman Eksperyans – “Nanm Nan Boutèy”
Lyrics by T. Beaubrun Jr. and Mimerose Beaubrun
Kalfou Danjere. Balenjo Music/Songs of Polygram International, 1992
Rasin
Vox Sambou – “Toussaint Louverture”
Lyrics by Vox Sambou
Lakay. Public Transit Records, 2008
Rap kreyòl
PATRICE LUMUMBA
Joseph Kabasele Tshamala (Le Grand Callé) – “Indépendance Cha Cha”
Lyrics by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala (Grand Callé)
Succès des années 50/60, Vol. I. Fonior, 1960.
Congolese rumba
Miriam Makeba – “Patrice Lumumba”
Lyrics by Bongi Makeba
Keep Me in Mind. Reprise, 1974.
Jazz
HUDA SHA’ARAWI
Samar El Husseiny – “اهو ده اللى صار / This Is What Happened”
Lyrics by Sayed Darwish
.اهو ده اللى صار Moseeqa TV, 2019 [originally 1919].
Arabic folk
Mohamed Mounir – “إزاي؟ / How Come?”
Lyrics by Mohamed Mounir
إزاي؟ Mohamed Mounir, 2011 [single released 2019].
Arabic pop
Dina El Wedidi – “تدوّر وترجع / Turning Back”
Lyrics by Mido Zohair
Turning Back. Valley Entertainment, 2015.
Arabic folk
GHANA’S “BIG SIX”
Lord Kitchener – “Birth of Ghana”
Lyrics by Aldwyn Roberts (Lord Kitchener)
Lord Kitchener and His Mambo All-Stars. RCA Victor, 1956
Calypso
E.T. Mensah & the Tempos – “Ghana Freedom”
Lyrics by E.T. Mensah and His Tempos Band
Tempos Melodies. Decca, 1962.
Highlife
THE NINE SAINTS
Bob Marley and the Wailers – “Exodus”
Lyrics by Bob Marley
Exodus. Island Records, 1977.
Reggae
QUEEN OF SHEBA
George Frederic Handel – “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” (From Solomon Act III: No. 42)
Composed by George Frederic Handel. London, 1749.
Baroque sinfonia
EMPEROR MENELIK II
Sydney Salmon – “Never Been Colonized”
Lyrics by Sydney Salmon
Ethiopia Nevah Colonize. Orthodox Muzik, 2011.
Ethiopian reggae
SHEIKH AMADOU BAMBA
Youssou N’Dour – “Bamba”
Lyrics by Mamadou Mbaye, Thomas Rome, Youssou N’Dour
Youssou N’Dour—Dakar/Kingston. Universal Music France, 2010.
Mbalax
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
Nina Simone – “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black”
Lyrics by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine
To Be Young, Gifted, and Black. RCA, 1969.
Soul
QUEEN ANA NZINGA
Prince Nico Mbarga – “Sweet Mother”
Lyrics by Prince Nico Mbarga
Sweet Mother. Rogers All Stars, 1976.
Highlife
FUNMILAYO RANSOME-KUTI
Lilias White – “Rain” (from Fela!: The Musical)
Lyrics by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis
Fela! The Musical. Knitting Factory Records, 2010.
Broadway (Afrobeat)
Sahr Ngaujah – “Coffin for Head of State” (from Fela!: The Musical)
Lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, with additional lyrics by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis
Fela! The Musical. Knitting Factory Records, 2010.
Broadway (Afrobeat)
SUNDIATA KEITA
Rail Band (featuring Mory Kanté and Salif Keita) – “Sunjata”
Lyrics by Mory Kanté, Salif Keita, Djelimady Tounkara, and the Rail Band
Soundiata. RCAM, 1975.
Modern Mande
FRANTZ FANON
James Brown – “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”
Lyrics by James Brown and Alfred Ellis
Say It Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud. King Records, 1969.
Funk
Sun Ra & His Arkestra – “Door of the Cosmos”
Lyrics by Sun Ra
Sleeping Beauty. El Saturn Records, 1979.
Avant-garde jazz/Space music
The Weekend, with Kendrick Lamar – “Pray for Me”
Lyrics by Abel Tesfaye (The Weekend), Adam Feeney, Kendrick Lamar, Martin McKinney
Black Panther: The Album. Top Dawg Entertainment, 2018.
Pop-rap
CHINUA ACHEBE
Fela Kuti – “Zombie”
Lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Zombie. Coconut Records, 1977.
Afrobeat
BLESSING OKAGBARE
Waje, Victoria Kimani, Vanessa Mdee, Arielle T., Gabriella, Yemi Alade, Selmor Mtukudzi, Judith Sephuma, & Blessing Nwafor – “Strong Girl”
Lyrics by Waje, Victoria Kimani, Vanessa Mdee, Arielle T., Gabriella, Yemi Alade, Selmor Mtukudzi, Judith Sephuma, Blessing Nwafor
One Campaign. ONE, 2015.
Afropop
KEN SARO-WIWA
Al Quetz – “Ken Saro-Wiwa (Ogoni Spirit)”
Lyrics by Al Quetz
Drums Come From Africa. Still Muzik, 2011.
Ambient
Nneka – “Soul Is Heavy”
Lyrics by Farhad Samadzada, Nneka-Lucia Egbuna, Talib Kweli Greene
Soul Is Heavy. Nettwork Music Group, 2011.
Hip-hop/Afrobeat
TOM MBOYA
Gabriel Omollo – “Tom Mboya”
Lyrics by Gabriel Omollo
Mr. Agoya. JoJo Records, 2014 [1969]
Benga
Curtis Mayfield – “People Get Ready”
Lyrics by Curtis Mayfield
People Get Ready. ABC-Paramount, 1965.
Soul
HENDRIK VERWOERD
Various Artists – “Izikunyatheli Afrika Verwoerd (Africa Is Going to Trample On You, Verwoerd!)”
This Land Is Mine: South African Freedom Songs. Folkway Records, 1966.
Liberation music (Isicathamiya)
Miriam Makeba – “Beware, Verwoerd! (Ndodemnyama)”
Lyrics by Vuyisile Mini
An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. RCA Victor, 1965
Liberation music
STEVE BIKO
Peter Gabriel – “Biko”
Lyrics by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel. Charisma, 1980.
Worldbeat
A Tribe Called Quest – “Steve Biko (Stir It Up)”
Lyrics by Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (Q-Tip), Malik Izaak Taylor (Phife Dawg)
Midnight Marauders. Universal Music Group, 1993.
Hip-hop
THE RIVONIA EIGHT
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – “Shosholoza”
Featuring: Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Hugh Masekela, Lucky Dube, Nokukhanya, Phuzekhemisi, Thandiswa, Vusi Mahlasela
Long Walk to Freedom. Gallo Record Company, 2006 [recorded].
Isicathamiya
Various Artists – “Tshotsholoza Mandela (Go Underground, Mandela!)”
This Land Is Mine: South African Freedom Songs. Folkway Records, 1966.
Isicathamiya
NELSON MANDELA
The Specials – “Nelson Mandela”
Lyrics by Jerry Damers and Rhoda Dakar
In the Studio. 2 Tone, 1984.
Ska/Worldbeat
Johnny Clegg & Sakuva – “Asimbonanga”
Lyrics by Johnny Clegg
Third World Child. Capitol Records, 1987.
Worldbeat
CITIZEN VOTERS
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”
Lyrics by Enoch Sontonga and Cornelius Jacobus Langenhoven
Long Walk to Freedom. Gallo Record Company, 2006 [recorded].
National anthem
Brenda Fassie – “Black President”
Lyrics by Brenda Fassie, Sello “Chicco” Twala, Colbert Mukwevho
Black President. CCP Records, 1990.
Township pop
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – “Halala South Africa”
Lyrics by Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Lihl’ Ixhiba Likagogo. Gallo Record Company, 2000.
Isicathamiya
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (with P.J. Powers) – “World in Union”
Lyrics by Charlie Skarbek
World in Union. Polygram Records, 1995.
Isicathamiya/Easy listening
WINNIE MANDELA
Hugh Masekela – “Mandela (Bring Him Back Home!)”
Lyrics by Hugh Masekela
Tomorrow. WEA, 1987.
South African jazz
DESMOND TUTU
Vusi Mahlasela – “When You Come Back”
Lyrics by Vusi Mahlasela
When You Come Back. BMG, 1992.
Folk
BRENDA FASSIE
Brenda & the Big Dudes – “Weekend Special”
Lyrics by Melvyn Matthews
Weekend Special. CCP Record Company/EMI, 1983.
Township pop
Brenda Fassie – “Vul’indlela”
Lyrics by Sello “Chicco” Twala and Brenda Fassie
Memeza. CCP Record Company, 1997.
Kwaito
Brenda Fassie – “Lekwaito”
Lyrics by Sello “Chicco” Twala and Brenda Fassie
Mina Nawe. CCP Record Company/EMI, 2001.
Kwaito
Brenda Fassie – “Too Late for Mama”
Lyrics by Sello “Chicco” Twala
Too Late for Mama. CCP Record Company, 1989.
Synth-pop
BEVERLY PALESA DITSIE & SIMON NKOLI
Majola – “Simon Nkoli”
Lyrics by Khanyisa Buti (Majola)
Boet/Sissy. Tyala Imbewu Pty Ltd., 2014.
South African jazz
Thandiswa Mazwai – “Nizalwa Ngobani”
Lyrics by Thandiswa Mazwai
Zabalaza. Escondida Music, 2004.
Kwaito
MIRIAM MAKEBA
Miriam Makeba – “Pata Pata”
Lyrics by Miriam Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy
Pata Pata. Reprise, 1967.
Mbaqanga/Afropop
Miriam Makeba – “Qongqothwane (The Click Song)”
Miriam Makeba. RCA Victor, 1960.
Xhosa folk
Miriam Makeba – “Mbube”
Lyrics by Solomon Linda
Miriam Makeba. RCA Victor, 1960.
Mbaqanga
Miriam Makeba & the Skylarks – “Sophiatown Is Gone”
Lyrics by Gibson Kente
Miriam Makeba & the Skylarks, Vol. 2. Gallo Music Publishing, 1959.
South African jazz
Miriam Makeba & the Skylarks – “Miriam’s Goodbye to Africa”
Lyrics by Reggie Msomi
Miriam Makeba & the Skylarks, Vol. 1. Gallo Music Publishing, 1959.
Afro-soul
GAMAL ABDUL NASSER
Om Kalsoum – “Asbah ‘andy al-an Bondoqeya/ اصبح عندى الان بندقية” [“I Now Have a Rifle”]
Lyrics by Nizar Qabbani
Wataneyat I. Mazzika Group, 1961.
Arabic folk
OM KALSOUM
Om Kalsoum – “Qaseedat Misr/ قصيدة مصر” [“Egypt’s Poem”]
Lyrics by Ibrahim Nagy
Wataneyat II. Mazzika Group, 1965.
Arabic folk
KWAME NKRUMAH
E.T. Mensah & the Tempos – “Kwame Nkrumah”
Lyrics by E.T. Mensah and His Tempos Band
King of Highlife. RetroAfric, 2015 [by 1960].
Highlife
Ɔbrafoɔ [Obrafour]– “Kwame Nkrumah”
Lyrics by Michael Elliot Kwabena Okyere Darko (Ɔbrafoɔ)
Pae Mu Ka. Noize Records, 1999.
Hiplife
MALCOLM X
Nina Simone – “Revolution (Pts. 1 & 2)”
Lyrics by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine
To Love Somebody. RCA Records, 1969.
Blues
Sam Cooke – “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Lyrics by Sam Cooke
Ain’t That Good News. RCA Victor, 1964.
Soul
Bob Marley & the Wailers – “Get Up, Stand Up”
Lyrics by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh
Burnin’. Tuff Gong/Island Records, 1973.
Reggae
