How Michael Jackson Lives On In Congolese Culture
When mishearing lyrics becomes an internet sensation.
Currently on TikTok, DR Congo is responsible for inspiring an infectious dance craze, as the Afro-francophone song “Pilé” by French-Congolese artist and vocalist in the rap trio Triangle Des Bermudes, Mauvais Djo, becomes a global hit online. With over 52 million streams on Spotify and an additional 17 million for the Gospel version, the song represents a surge in popularity within Francophone African music, as listeners vibe from crowds of over 2 million Fête de la Musique ravers in Paris to a single French rap enthusiast in Vietnam.
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The Black diaspora in particular has never been so connected, with modern technology offering personalised access to cultures and sub-cultures from the comfort of a mobile phone. With the virality potential on social media, it strangely makes sense that a decades-old Congolese inside joke has thundered through the internet and keeps the connection between an 80’s Black American megastar and today’s youth alive.
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