Music critic calls out Toto for racism involved on hit song ‘Africa’

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As a gamer, I’m addressing a topic here that’s been sparked by an article from Far Out Magazine penned by Will Howard. Now, I appreciate the magazine and the writer, who typically do great work, but this time, there’s a point of contention. The article suggests, and I’m not passing judgment on its accuracy, that Toto’s iconic ’80s hit “Africa” might have underlying racial connotations due to the band being from California, never having visited Africa, and seemingly lacking a deep understanding of the continent.

Is it possible to interpret that songwriter David Paich held racial prejudice, given that he did not express disdain for the African continent or its inhabitants? Quite the contrary, he portrayed Africa as an idyllic location in his songs.

Toto accused of racism over “Africa”

If Paich had composed a song portraying a location that has been subjected to physical and financial oppression for centuries, labeling its inhabitants as evil and describing it as unattractive, that would indeed be abhorrent, racist, and unfit for recording or release. However, it’s important to note that Paich did not do this.

He composed a melody that had some flaws. Kilimanjaro doesn’t tower over the Serengeti; instead, they’re located separately within Tanzania, with considerable distance between them. The imprecision in Paich’s facts might cast doubt on his credibility rather than suggesting he’s racist.

As a gamer speaking in my own words: In the real world, it doesn’t need to be this way. He could have spun a tale about a magical corner of his home, California, painting it as a dreamscape. Or, he could have described Antarctica, not as a frozen wasteland, but as a place of enchanting beauty. Yet, he opted for Africa instead, perhaps choosing dishonesty over authenticity.

1) It would be reasonable for him to verify his information.

2) Given that he could likely afford it, it seems plausible that he visited the location he spoke of.

A more palatable alternative would be for him to have composed a song that wasn’t so lackluster. The melody seems feeble and lacking depth, the lyrics incomprehensible and nonsensical. Yet, this song gained immense popularity. We should share some responsibility for its success as much as we should blame Toto. This doesn’t make us racist; it makes us questionable music connoisseurs.

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2025-04-20 21:00