Human constellations and the postcolonial state: The music of Black So Man and the pathologies of Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study examines the music of Burkinabé artist Black So Man, bringing into focus how his songs articulate political critique and social commentary through what I term “human constellations”—metaphorical figures of lovers, youth, elders, parents, and workers. Focusing on four key songs—“Adji” (1998), “J’étais au Procès” (1997), “On S’en Fout” (1997), and “Le Système du Vampire” (1997)—the analysis demonstrates how Black So Man mobilizes affective registers of love, betrayal, pain, and resilience to render visible the failures of the postcolonial Burkinabé state. His lyrics expose the disillusionment that followed independence, the persistence of neocolonial exploitation, and the moral and social fractures that stem from corruption, privatization, and economic despair. By centering an understudied figure in Francophone West African music, this study fills a critical gap in African musical cultural scholarship and spotlights the significance of Burkinabé voices in theorizing political life.