Franklin Boukaka

Franklin Boukaka was born on October 10, 1940, in Brazzaville. Beginning in vocal ensembles like Negro Band and Cercul Jazz, he developed a rich, expressive baritone and an uncompromising commitment to Pan-African social justice.

In 1970, accompanied by Manu Dibango's orchestra, Boukaka recorded his masterwork, Le Bûcheron ('The Woodcutter'), featuring the haunting refrain 'Aye Afrika, he! Bato banso baleli...', lamenting the suffering of African workers and celebrating Che Guevara and Lumumba. The song became an eternal anti-imperialist anthem across the continent. Boukaka was tragically executed during the abortive military insurrection of February 1972.