'HISTORY OR HIS STORY?’ - RAP PIONEER

Many consider him the godfather of rap. Gil-Scott Heron left a permanent mark on poetry, music and culture at large with his profound lyricism and jazzy instrumentals. And some credit him for being among the originators or inspiration for hip hop music.

He wrote and performed with a purpose, to promote revolution and the liberation of Africans worldwide. In this poem, known as 'His Story' from his 1982 concert Black Wax, Heron shows how mainstream colonial rhetoric and language shapes our perception of Africa and the world.

While this was recorded over forty years ago, it remains relatable and relevant. He was born in Chicago but this is one of his poems that focus on the African continent.