"We’re All Angry Africans” — Worlasi Speaks on Racism, Identity and the African Experience

Ghanaian musician and creative artist Worlasi has opened up about what he describes as the silent frustration many Africans carry because of racism, stereotypes and global perceptions about the continent.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey, Worlasi said the title “Angry Africa” is not just about him personally, but reflects the emotions of many Africans across the continent.

“Everybody in Africa is angry,” he said. “Even those who are rich and filthy rich sometimes wake up and ask themselves, ‘Which country did we offend?’”

According to him, many Africans grow up constantly exposed to narratives that paint Black people and African countries as inferior, dependent or permanently behind the Western world.

“You wake up, you look online, and the whole internet is trying to frame things like you used to be a slave, you were less than us, we won, you lost,” he stated. Worlasi explained that while Africans are known for their warmth, joy and communal lifestyle, there is also a deeper emotional struggle tied to how they are perceived globally.

“I’m not saying get angry and hate people,” he clarified. “But deep down, you should know that wherever you step in this world, at some point, you will be looked down upon just because you are African.”

The musician also shared a personal experience during a trip abroad. Recounting a moment on a bus in Austria, he said a baby kept staring at him and smiling, suggesting it may have been one of the child’s first interactions with a Black person.

Despite his concerns, Worlasi praised the sense of peace and togetherness often found in African communities, noting that “it’s hard to be depressed in a crowd” because of the lively social culture on the continent.