For Your Ears Only is a weekly music column here on FEMME MAG exploring the different sounds, range and depth from women across the continent and the world. Check back here every Wednesday for our curated 5-track list of what we’ve specially picked for you!
This week’s For Your Ears Only column is guest-edited by Product Manager at EMPIRE and Creative Lead and Founder at We Soko Africa, Titilope Adesanya
First moves… we hail those who make them, we put them in the history books, they are called brave ones and go-getters.
But how many times do we see women making these moves?
From relationships to the workplace, women are discouraged from taking the lead. A woman who takes the lead is a woman to be feared. She is aggressive, bossy and doesn’t know her place. Quite frankly, it’s bullshit and I’m tired of it.
On this week’s For Your Ears Only playlist, I’ve selected songs that have been part of my continuous effort to assert myself and articulate what I want – no questions asked. I’m still figuring out what that looks like for me but I’m glad that I’m taking these steps.
“Leave Me Alone” – Amaarae
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When Amaarae said “I want to just be alone, I want you to just leave me alone”… I found the clarity of this resonating deeply. Ever so often, we’re sluggish to end things that don’t benefit us. We stay in situations that keep fucking with our mental space for way too long. The decision to pick up and choose YOU is harder than one cares to admit. Finding the voice to say “Leave me alone”, is a first move you want to be able to make.
“Come Over” – VanJess
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Very self-explanatory title. Come Over. That’s all. Cancel whatever plans you’ve got. VanJess wants to come over and I am so with everything they’re singing about in this song. “Don’t waste my time”… Got the ‘feels’? Pick up the phone and call. Say what you want. You’re most likely to get it. Even if you don’t.. ah well
“Maybe I” – Nomisupasta
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Here, this South African singer is unearthing the myriad of ways society tells us it’s not ok to make the first move in our romantic lives. Playing coy, waiting for men to decide first what they want and just the general societal bullshit tropes of women being passive in their own lives are just a few of the things she sings about. While the title of the song may seem like she’s asking for permission to step out of these narrow confines, it’s clear that Nomisupasta has already decided which path she’s ready to follow.
“Control” – Gyakie
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Over in Accra, Gyakie is sure about what she wants. It’s control! And by everything she’s got, she’s sitting in the driver’s seat. On this very sick melody off her debut single from 2019, she’s giving directions; what she wants and how she wants it.
“Getting Late” – Tyla
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There is no time factor when you want what you want. And so, even though Tyla sees that it’s late, she still wants to spend some time, she promises it’s worth it. Your time won’t be wasted.
Listen here on our Spotify playlist
