Saga Africa
Encyclopedia
"Saga Africa" is a song recorded by the former professional tennis player Yannick Noah
, released in 1991 as the first single
from his debut album, Black & What. The song is also available on the singer's album entitled Live, released in 2002.
), and the single "Saga Africa", that mixes a special and sporty dance (a kind of African caterpillar), became one of the summer hits in France. Yannick Noah created the surprise performing the song on December 2, 1991, at the Palais des Sports of Gerland, Lyon
, during the honour tour of the Davis Cup
just after the victory of the French team that he was the captain, accompanied by his team for the dance.
Yannick Noah composed the lyrics himself, a mixture of French and Cameroon
ian expressions, while the rest of the album Black & What is mainly in English
. He deliberately sings with a relatively pronounced accent. The lyrics include a tribute to the footballers of the Cameroon national football team
named Les Lions Indomptables, especially Roger Milla
, Francois Omam-Biyik
and Thomas Nkono, whose names are mentioned in the words. He also refers to Paris
and Yaounde
, soukouss and makossa
. The music uses a sample of a Snap!
's song, "Mary Had a Little Boy".
. It went straight to #6 on the SNEP Singles Chart on June 1, 1991. It reached #2 two weeks later and stayed there for four not consecutive weeks, and was unable to disloge at #1 first Mylène Farmer
's "Désenchantée
", then Les Inconnus
' "Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy
". It totaled 15 weeks in the top ten and 22 weeks on the chart (Top 50). The single achieved Gold
status awarded by the SNEP for a minimum of 250,000 copies sold. According to Infodisc website, the song was sold about 318,000 copies, remaining the second most successful song of the singer, behind "La Voix des Sages".
7" single
7" maxi
Cassette
Yannick Noah
Yannick Noah is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams...
, released in 1991 as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from his debut album, Black & What. The song is also available on the singer's album entitled Live, released in 2002.
Background, writing, music and lyrics
The album Black & What was a success (certified GoldMusic recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
), and the single "Saga Africa", that mixes a special and sporty dance (a kind of African caterpillar), became one of the summer hits in France. Yannick Noah created the surprise performing the song on December 2, 1991, at the Palais des Sports of Gerland, Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, during the honour tour of the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
just after the victory of the French team that he was the captain, accompanied by his team for the dance.
Yannick Noah composed the lyrics himself, a mixture of French and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian expressions, while the rest of the album Black & What is mainly in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He deliberately sings with a relatively pronounced accent. The lyrics include a tribute to the footballers of the Cameroon national football team
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
named Les Lions Indomptables, especially Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
, Francois Omam-Biyik
François Omam-Biyik
François Omam-Biyik is a former football player from Cameroon. He also has French nationality. He was one of the most important players of the Cameroonian national team in the nineties, playing at the three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998...
and Thomas Nkono, whose names are mentioned in the words. He also refers to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Yaounde
Yaoundé
-Transportation:Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby Yaoundé Airport is used by the military. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city; particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods...
, soukouss and makossa
Makossa
Makossa is a type of music that is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. It is similar to soukous, except that it includes strong bass rhythm and a prominent horn section. Makossa, which means " dance" in Duala, originated from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences...
. The music uses a sample of a Snap!
Snap!
Snap! is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Frankfurt-based producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has been through a number of line-up changes over the years, but was most successful when fronted by rapper Turbo B, who performed on the UK number 1 singles "The Power" and...
's song, "Mary Had a Little Boy".
Chart performances
The single was charted in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It went straight to #6 on the SNEP Singles Chart on June 1, 1991. It reached #2 two weeks later and stayed there for four not consecutive weeks, and was unable to disloge at #1 first Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
's "Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
", then Les Inconnus
Les Inconnus
Les Inconnus are a French trio of humorists: Didier Bourdon, Bernard Campan and Pascal Légitimus. While their first successes were on stage, they are most famous for their satirical sketch comedy television show La Télé des Inconnus, which premiered in 1990 and remained popular throughout the...
' "Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy
Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy
"Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy " is a song recorded by the satiric group Les Inconnus in 1991. Released as a single from their album Bouleversifiant, it had a great success in France, reaching number one on the national singles chart.-Lyrics and music:...
". It totaled 15 weeks in the top ten and 22 weeks on the chart (Top 50). The single achieved Gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status awarded by the SNEP for a minimum of 250,000 copies sold. According to Infodisc website, the song was sold about 318,000 copies, remaining the second most successful song of the singer, behind "La Voix des Sages".
Track listings
CD maxi- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00
- "Night of Blues" — 3:45
7" single
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
- "Night of Blues" — 3:45
7" maxi
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00
Cassette
- "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
- "Night of Blues" — 3:45
Charts and certifications
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 1991 | 250,000 |