Afric Simone

Afrique Simon is a Mozambican singer who became famous for his song “Hafanana” released in 1975.

Under the compositions of the singer Afrika Simon, Soviet people were “partying” at discos and weddings. It is no coincidence that the clip with the hit of the dark-skinned musician performed by Valery Leontiev was included in the third issue of “Old songs about the main thing”. In 2014, in the program “Точь-в-точь” Vitaly Gogunsky tried to copy the incomparable Simon and unexpectedly met on stage with the author of songs.

At 17, the young man moved to Europe, performed in nightclubs, accompanying the singing energetic dancing and almost circus tricks (in a jump sat on the twine, with a modest weight of 65 kg threw heavy weights weighing a centner). The growth of popularity of the singer, who took a pseudonym in honor of the continent, began when producers abandoned the idea of forcing Simon to perform songs in English or German.

Africa’s best-known composition “Hafanana”, in the Shangaan language of the Tsonga people with a smattering of English words, preaches tolerance and optimism. Its approximate translation is as follows: “It doesn’t matter whether you are black or white, poor or rich – God will judge you not by these qualities; you can’t take money to the grave, so enjoy life while you are alive and don’t worry about small things.