Behind the Track: “Africa” — Toto
Origins of the LA-guided 80's safari turned ubiquitous classic
You’d be hard-pressed to believe that a poetic tribute to Africa was incepted by 6 white musicians from North Hollywood who had never been, but the reality is true, with lyrics inspired by National Geographic periodicals and UNICEF commercials.
Songwriter, producer, and keyboardist David Paich, who assembled the band Toto among session musicians from Steely Dan, Seals & Crofts, and Boz Scaggs, took lead on “Africa” by default — he sang it because he was the best at getting the words out on tempo. Having grown up in Catholic school, Paich remembered stories from returning missionaries, leading to his spontaneous creation of the song’s hook, “I bless the rains down in Africa.” Imagination was the driving force behind Toto’s “Africa”. Band drummer, David Hungate, earned credits as a co-creator, utilizing his nostalgia as an 11 year-old listening to drummers at the African pavilion of the NYC-hosted, 1964 World’s Fair. It was the hypnotic rhythm of the percussion that fascinated Hungate — the constant pulse of the drums entrancing the listener while it invigorates with new life.
Musically, “Africa” is introduced by the GS-1 from Yamaha, the premier multi-sound synthesizer of the time, with accompaniment from a marimba. The remainder of the melody is contributed by the CS-80, a brassy, more atmospheric synth you’ll recognize from Blade Runner. From there, instrumentation is layered in, including bass, snare, hi-hat, congas, cowbell, shaker, and a makeshift walking stick with Pepsi bottlecaps attached. The chorus is harmonized and ripe for modern age interpretations, like the one from Jimmy Fallon or Donald Glover & Betty White in Community. Even Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa have used the iconic melody as the production base for mixtape cuts.
The unique track from 1982 was categorized in a budding genre of music called “World” and is considered the first song of its kind to reach widespread popularity. It’s also the only song by Toto to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. For a band who’s name in Latin means “all-encompassing,” the recognition is fitting, a distinction representative of their often genre-crossing sound. The aging process has done nothing but favors for “Africa,” described as “cross-generational” and “an expression of joy and love” in this article by Vice. Despite its uninformed author origins, “Africa” would go on to grow with significance through performances like the one in front of African delegates introducing Reverend Desmond Tutu for a lifetime achievement award from the UN or the time Toto performed it in Johannesburg in 1997 alongside an 8 member South African chorus. As it approaches 300 million streams on Spotify, “Africa” stands near the top of most-streamed tracks made in the 80's.
“Africa” is metaphorical — its literal character is a lonely missionary and while his salvation seems to be found in the form of a visiting woman, creator David Paich explains that the true source is the land itself. In “Africa,” the protagonist searches for meaning, but much like a riddle, the irony is that the answer is right in front and all around him. As explained in this interview with Grantland, “Africa” is about a social worker torn between a more traditional life or one dedicated to philanthropy, by serving in the foreign place that has captured his heart. 36 years after its release, the longevity of “Africa” remains intact, exerting timeless influence through the majesty of its hidden message.
