Written by Mia Keitt

Before I dive into my review of the song, we first have to understand the background of why the song was made. During the Senegalese presidential election in 2024, many artists used their platforms to speak out against then-president Macky Sall, who tried to (illegally) extend his presidential career to a third term. In the face of government corruption and the threat of democratic backsliding, the people of Senegal stood up and used their voices not only in the voting booths, but also with their artistry and music. Their advocacy through hip hop, culture, and music, in no small part, changed the course of their country’s politics for the better. As a result, they elected Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who represents the next generation and brings the promise of a more ethical and democratic future for Senegal.

One of the influential artists of the movement against Sall was Gunman Xuman. He is considered a pioneer of the Senegalese hip hop scene, a social justice advocate, and often uses his music to protest. He released the song Dictateur in February 2024. It’s performed in French, and I don’t speak it, nor could I find any lyrics or translation online. Despite the language barrier, I felt that his message against impending dictatorship, exposing corruption, and encouraging people to fight for their freedoms and the government/representation they deserve was relatable, especially in today’s world. The song has an explosive beat, a chant of “dictateur” that’s catchy, and a really cool guitar melody played throughout that gives it a groove to get your head bopping. He also changes up his flow a little in the middle of the song, which kept me on my toes. I also appreciated that you could hear traditional drumming elements throughout; it made it really enjoyable to listen to. I like how he mixed the traditional drumming and music and gave it a modern hip-hop feel. It’s also a great protest song. It definitely fired me up listening to it, so I can only imagine how his Senegalese fans on the front line of the movement felt listening (and also fully understanding the lyrics, heh).

I like it so much that I wish it were longer!! Give it a listen below. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!: