Diso Be (Very Wrong)

Tarika, Son Egal, 1997

(Rasoanaivo/Randrianasolomalala)

This song is about why our country is in such a mess because we have everything upside down. We cannot judge right from wrong any more. The government keeps making laws which chase out good tourists likely to bring foreign currency and help the economy, but allows the bad ones to stay who prepare a coup, invest in drug dealing, or rob the country of its natural resources. They basically train Madagascar to be re-colonised in a new form.

I learned that there is a rule in Madagascar about how one cannot talk about a part of history until it's 50 years old. I was lucky enough to get people talking about this project, but some were clearly very scared of what they said and did not agree to be recorded or photographed. They had to be very careful about what they said.

I realised that everything is upside down, everything is wrong, when I discovered that some people were making a big fuss about the 100th anniversary of the French take-over of Madagascar. Rumour had it that they were preparing for a big celebration.

How can the government mourn for the heroes of 1947 but celebrate Ranavalona being exiled?

I say, I say/Why? It's completely wrong.

Those who fought in 1947/Why do you prevent them from talking?/We should celebrate their courage/Instead you always mourn and moan.

The arrival of foreigners 100 years ago/You want to celebrate its anniversary?/Don't you realise that it's our Queen being exiled/Which you are making fun of instead?

Those animals being killed without thought/We did not know they bring foreign currency/Antohomadinika was very famous lately/Rubbish was turned into an agricultural success.

Everything is upside down/What has happened here?/Those who try to do the right things/Are the ones to be condemned?

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