Nothing surprises me anymore

Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on Earth to rule all of humanity.
–Thomas Sankara, (late) President of Burkina Faso

Imperialism is an uncomfortable subject. Period!

For the perpetrators, the victims, and the beneficiaries.

It’s especially discomforting for those living in countries that still practice this abhorrent system of exploitation but see no reason why they shouldn’t continue benefiting from its grotesque machinations. If the impoverishment, death and destruction caused by their country’s imperialist plundering can be thought of as distant troubles or conflicts, it helps ease the conscience.

Instead of plunging into a lengthy diatribe about the evils of imperialism, I should at this point reassure you that, even though I’m so inclined, I am taking a different tack here.

Imperialism takes insidious forms, but I haven’t come across a more subtle yet subversive denouncement of it in popular culture than the song Plus rien ne m’étonne [Nothing surprises me (anymore)].

Tiken Jah Fakoly, an Ivorian reggae singer, wrote and sang it in French. The choral version in the YouTube video above is particularly pleasing to both the eye and ear. It was performed at the 37th edition of the Nuits de Champagne festival in Troyes, France, from October 20 to 26, 2024, accompanied by nearly 1,000 amateur and professional singers who joined forces for the polyphonic choir.

Tiken Jah Fakoly is the stage name of Doumbia Moussa Fakoly. He was born in Côte d’Ivoire in 1968, but his protest music and calls for pan-Africanism made him unpopular in the country’s political circles. In 2007, Senegal declared him persona non grata after he criticised authoritarian President Abdoulaye Wade. He has lived in exile in Bamako, Mali, since 2003, but performs internationally.

Plus rien ne m’étonne is sung in French, but the translated English lyrics are below:

They shared the world
Nothing surprises me anymore
Nothing surprises me anymore
Nothing surprises me anymore
They shared the world
Nothing surprises me anymore
Nothing surprises me anymore
Nothing surprises me anymore

If you leave me Chechnya, I leave you Armenia
If you leave me Afghanistan, I’ll leave you Pakistan
If you don’t leave Haiti, I’ll take you to Bangui
If you help me bomb Iraq, I’ll fix Kurdistan

If you leave me the uranium, I’ll leave the aluminium
If you leave me your deposits, I’ll help you hunt the Taliban
If you give me a lot of wheat, I’ll make war with you
If you let me extract your gold, I’ll help you get the general out

They shared Africa without consulting us
It is surprising that we are disunited
Part of the Mandingo Empire was among the Wolofs
Part of the Mossi Empire was in Ghana
Part of the Soussou Empire was in the Mandingo Empire
Part of the Mandingo Empire was found among the Mossi
They shared Africa without consulting us!
Without asking us! Without notifying us!

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One response to “Nothing surprises me anymore”

Ark

Oct 19, 2026

“It’s especially discomforting for those living in countries that still practice this abhorrent system of exploitation but see no reason why they shouldn’t continue benefiting from its grotesque machination”

Why would they feel discomfort if they recognised /considered themselves willing/active participants?

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