Million Voices

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“Million Voices”

Single by Wyclef Jean from the album Hotel Rwanda:Music From the Film
Released	2004
Recorded	2004
Genre	Afro-beat, Ambient
Length	4:27
Label	Commotion Records
Writer(s)	Wyclef Jean and Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis
Producer	Wyclef Jean, Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis and Andrea Guerra

Million Voices is a song by Wyclef Jean from the soundtrack of Hotel Rwanda.

1 Plot
2 Synopsis
3 Choir
4 Translation
5 Awards/Nominations

[edit] Plot

Wyclef Jean, born in Haiti, like many of the people in his home country as well as other Caribbean countries including many Latin American countries, are originally from Africa, brought to the Americas by slave traders from Europe. Many African-Americans and Caribbeans do not know their ancestral heritage, yet are curious about where they come from. They may never know but they still feel connected to Africa. This is why Wyclef Jean did Million Voices, writing a song that revolves around the Rwandan Genocide.

Rwanda, an African nation that was once under the control of Germany, was later given to Belgium after the First World War, when Germany was forced to surrender its colonies. The Belgians went in, and separated the Rwandans into two different groups. The Tutsis were the more "white"-looking in appearance, taller and with thinner noses, and the Hutus being darker, were therefore oppressed by the Belgians along with the help of a group of elite Tutsis. After years of oppression, and once independence was given to Rwanda, the Hutus were given power, since they were the majority, and eventually took revenge on the Tutsis in 1994 after years of propaganda by the Hutus that paralleled the Nazis' hatred against the Jews.

The song then, subtly reflects the ignorance of the Europeans, and how the hierarchy of races, has destroyed the economy of African countries.

[edit] Synopsis

The song criticizes ex-colonial powers for splitting Africa into so many countries and thus, making them very weak economically. The lyrics "Why can't Africa be the United States of Africa", refers to the unnecessary division of the continent, which would be much stronger if it were unified.

[edit] Choir

The song lends the voice of the children, backed by a chorus of cascading vocals. Wyclef Jean sums up his message that Africa has value due to all its work and toil, and that all the precious commodities don't justify its oppression. He argues that a people who were one from the beginning can still unite.

[edit] Translation

The Kinyarwanda lyrics which are part of the song are as follows.

Ni ryari zuba rizagaruka hejuru yacu? Nduzaricyeza? [IPA: ni rjari zuba rizagaruka heʒuru yatʃu nduzarikjeza] When will the sun return above us? Who will reveal it to us once again?