The French-Congolese afropunk band Tshegue returns with a new video for their track “M’Benga Bila.” Following up on the pair’s excellent visual treatment for “The Wheel,” out this past April, Tshegue’s newest video is, in-part, an homage to the 1986 film, Mauvais Sang. Look for the track “M’Benga Bila” to be included on the duo’s upcoming EP “Telema” out June 19th on Ekleroshock Records.
Tshegue is Congolese/French singer Faty Sy Savanet and the French-Cuban percussionist/producer Nicolas “Dakou” Dacunha. Their new video was shot in the Goutte D’Or neighbourhood of Paris’ 18th arrondissement. The title, “M’Benga Bila,” translates as “I’m gonna call the cops.” Discussing the track, Faty Sy Savanet explains:
“It’s a protest, a scream from a society that still struggles to accommodate the differences and the freedoms of all. The threat ‘I’m gonna call the cops!’ for us represents a systematic formula which too often forces the point of rupture between two individuals, the end of a dialogue”.
The video for “M’Benga Bila” was directed by Sacha Barbin, and they find Faty Sy Savanet taking center stage while Dacunha makes various cameos. With Savanet’s fierce presence leading the way and the streets of her neighborhood providing the perfect backdrop, the singer’s protest is not only a call-to-action but a potent reminder of the importance of dialogue over opposition.
