WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES song by Mr. Nicky

TEACHERS: Mr. Nicky is booking his 2024 virtual assemblies and online history songwriting lessons! These programs (via Zoom/Google Meet/etc.) meet state learning standards in both social studies and ELA, and they’re tons of fun. Please send an e-mail to [e-mail] for full information. (Students will not receive a response, but thank you for your support!)
- LYRICS BELOW -
Here's the MERCH! : www.bonfire.com/store/mr-nick...
A big thanks to Ms. Petty at Carver Middle School (Spartanburg, SC) for inspiring this video with her West African empires parody to the tune of Prince's "Purple Rain"!
West African Empires song
By Mr. Nicky
To the tune of “Walk it Talk it” by Migos ft. Drake
Salt and gold and profit (profit), salt and gold and profit, salt and
Salt and gold and profit (woo!), salt and gold and profit (yeah)
Salt and gold and profit (profit), salt and gold and profit, salt and
Salt and gold and profit (woo!), salt and gold and profit (hey!)
Salt’s in the Sahara and they want it in Wangara (want it)
Gold is in Wangara so you’re crossing the Sahara (woo!)
Once you're in Wangara, gotta trade through silent barter (hey)
Gotta go through Ghana, a lot of taxes go to Ghana (yeah)
You gave Ghana some gold when you came through (woo, hey!)
You took goods from the south, now you gotta pay too (pay too)
Savanna through the Sahel, I rule these trade routes (trade, trade)
Bringing in so much gold, I give it to my chained pooch (woof, woof)
My people gather around me (kneel down x2, beat the drum x2, boop x2)
They use iron tools for farming (iron tools, melt it up, smelt it up, use it)
The men gotta join my army (gotta train x4, yeah)
My royal blood’s from my mommy (mommy x5)
The Senegal and Niger Rivers are my highway lanes (woo!)
We built Jenne-Jenno all on our own, the world's amazed (what?)
And now your caravan is passing Kumbi’s marketplace (hey, hey)
You bought some kola nuts ‘cause where you’re from it barely rains (barely rains)
You bring us
(Refrain)
Hey, Arab traders arrived
Muslim merchants came to Ghana, settled down over time
Showing tolerance for Africans’ religion, inspiring
many to convert to Islam, so when Ghana declined…
Muslim Almoravids captured Kumbi
Then the great king who practiced Islam devoutly
was the famous Mansa Musa, he ruled Mali
Put his kingdom on the map, holding gold up proudly
He made the pilgrimage to Mecca called the Hajj, woo
Word spread about his splendid entourage, woo
Met a Spanish architect in Cairo, took his good designs home
Used some mud and limestone, and some
(Refrain, last line: Mali after Ghana, kingdoms trading trans-Saharan)
(Oh yeah!) Islam brought us new customs (customs)
Following the Five Pillars as Muslims (there are five)
Under central ruling of the sultans (sultans)
and quadi courts’ Shariah law judgments (judgments)
Now succession has changed
through the males it's traced and we communicate in Arabic,
praying five times a day in it, use it to trade and record information (written)
We’ll educate you in Timbuktu (hey/woo)
Study at Sangkore when you come through (brrr)
Choose your own field to pursue (choose)
Put your kids in a Quranic school (school)
Teach them Sunni Ali would subdue (would subdue)
Timbuktu and the Songhai would rule (Songhai rule)
Did more conquering than Mali could do (they could do)
Under Askia Mohammed Toure (hey!)
(Refrain, last line: Songhai, Mali, Ghana, kingdoms trading trans-Saharan)
We have griots to preserve our (culture) history and wisdom
Keeping our ancestors’ records (records) as poet-musicians
Teaching about Sundiata Keita (teaching) without seeing it written
learning through verbal transmission, it's our rich oral tradition
We tell folktales to our children (tales) with good morals, we try to instill them (rabbit tails)
over the centuries they’ve been appealing
to cultures around the world like our drum rhythms (yeah), our dance and traditional instruments (dance)
In this song you can hear the huge influence
of the diaspora Africa’s given us
Even Picasso was trying to exhibit us
(Refrain, last line: Songhai, Mali, Ghana, kingdoms trading trans-Saharan)

[@es_lucid3113]

Who else came here cause of there teachers 😂🤣😂

[@flatty5]

What song is this

[@ahmarijoseph7878]

mmmeeeeeee

[@shadowspirit6117]

Jake Salvator yes

[@jaselyzhang811]

What school you go?.

[@sockisanidot]

Yep

[@thatonedinonerd9709]

Ten rappers drake was to scared to diss

[@imbadatvideogames9770]

True

[@TheGene75]

why did u copy from the mesmoptamia vid

[@thatonedinonerd9709]

@@TheGene75 bro its the same channel

[@imbadatvideogames9770]

Lil Nicky

[@jerrythicklin3260]

too*

[@gamingwithahuman3595]

WE MAKING IT OUT OF HISTORY CLASS WITH THIS 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Beachbabe169]

haha my history teacher keeps playing this 😂

[@Gokusatoru99]

My teacher made us watch this and I can’t stop singing it in class

[@Beachbabe169]

Same 😂

[@jaheimamp6977]

just doing my homework for history 🚶🏽‍♀️

[@es_lucid3113]

Hey jaheem Matthew

[@dinachraibi4165]

Samzzzzz

[@zeegalore]

yessss

[@Mortian__]

I doing my test... I'll go now...

[@diddid2646]

Same

[@nuggetsnuggets6760]

mr nicky we want merch

[@lonely_sock_drumming2774]

Nugget's nuggets yes

[@cristalocean66]

YESSS

[@thecornseller]

I'd like to rock a 'By The Euphrates River' hoodie and cap

[@jacksondincin455]

Nugget's nuggets facts

[@bloxburghousetours7446]

No we don’t we need it

[@mikewold82]

Bro my history teacher played this when we were learning about West-African and Sub-Saharan trade routes. It's educational, it has a great education, and miraculously the best song I've heard in a while. Props to Mr. Nicky for this one.

[@brandonotto1461]

Fr

[@jordanstewartgaming9620]

Same

[@KeyKoin]

bro same and now its stuck in my head

[@javierbarbosa2448]

Exactly

[@DiscontinuedChannel00035]

Yup

[@Xtramz]

My history teacher played this 🔥🔥

[@rose-ee6fx]

My teacher do that 😂🔥

[@orchidandsunflower4308]

Mine to

[@mikkalasworden5671]

Gulp Ima dying

[@Dynam0-X977]

Same

[@unknown_8555]

@@Dynam0-X977 same

[@ajanihenry1597]

This is fire and even more fire on 1.25x speed And it's Eminem level on 1.5x speed And God rapper level on 2x speed

[@littleredridinginthehoodli663]

Omg 2x omg I can't 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@olivertheperson-ws1my]

@@littleredridinginthehoodli663 i tried and its not possible

[@alexajenkins4102]

2x is awesome!!

[@maddiebond3588]

I did it in 2x wow I’m just dead thanks

[@jerrythicklin3260]

1.75x

[@GIBBEH]

Ok, this is epic

[@BaconGuestSkits-Pawn]

Fr

[@blackullah]

I wish every subject in school could have been taught through song I would have learned so much more! Keep up the good work keep doing this please it'll help so many kids

[@whowhotantey5505]

my friends teacher is making them sing and memorize it; it’s a pain

[@noodlevan6689]

Every song you produce Mr. Nicky is a bop, you are literally one of my favorite teachers even though I’ve never met you

[@jluton2193]

My teacher plays all of your songs and they are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. keep it up love the channel

[@crashdagamer]

Yes

[@alimonroe9032]

J Luton omggg same

[@agentpiggles6685]

Ya my world history teacher plays this all the time everybody loves it

[@chancehawkins936]

same

[@jluton2193]

thanks for all the likes

[@babyshadow611]

My ss teacher played this in class and all of the boys started singing it

[@kerizil]

I just watched this today at school 😂

[@kaleb.7]

SAME 💀

[@qavixz]

Same

[@Zzxxurie]

Same 😂

[@BTSarmy-wj3vk]

In my school the entire 7th grade listened to this, and you have forever tinctured us. I’m literally in a group chat and all they talk about is thing song, and a kid blasted this on his surround speakers. Great song!

[@BTSarmy-wj3vk]

Joey Nguyen no...

[@fun101productions9]

Do Lucid Dreams by Juice Wrld

[@slyme9517]

Ayy

[@MantoTenku]

Yes, very much

[@procfredo7311]

FUN 101 PRODUCTIONS no

[@fun101productions9]

Stephon Kolagbodi yes

[@mr.granss2257]

🥺🥺🥺😢

[@firesavage245]

I had too listen to this song in history class today.

[@hunteracox5]

How does this one not have more views??? PURE FIRE!!! My classes agree.

[@hunteracox5]

Back again. Too FIRE!!!

[@hunteracox5]

Guess who's back? Back Again????!!!! PURE FIRE!!!

[@hunteracox5]

After all this time? pure fire :,)

[@thecornseller]

When you make a song to teach kids and they actually like it: I'm gonna do what's called a pro-gamer move

[@supersalad42]

pRo-GaMeR mOvE yes yes true yes

[@mikkalasworden5671]

Man eat some salt find gold and have lotsa profit

[@wyattiswhatitis9460]

Based

[@uncleratfoot8199]

WE MAKING IT OUT OF MY SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@eventuel4987]

I didn't know anything about those Empires in West Africa, only that they existed and that Mansa Musa was probably the richest man of the world at one point. This video clearly explains the salt and gold trade route, how Islam spread in Africa, and the name of many of those Empires. "Salt-and-gold-and-profit" and "Salt's in the Sahara and they want it in Wangara-Gold is in Wangara so you're crossing the Sahara" will stay forever in my head!

[@unknown_8555]

yall got some dope teachers

[@unknown_8555]

how many of yall in 6th grade

[@Supervalu89]

It was an honor to be the twenty-fourth view Mr. Nicky! Keep it up!

[@ethan9826]

You're straight fire, keep it up brother.

[@avam5545]

I wish u were on Spotify Mr.Nicky

[@lashawn0214]

My 6th grade students love your songs and I have enjoyed adding dance moves to to bring it alive!! You are an awesome lyricist and your flow is on point👍🏽👍🏽 Thanks for keeping it current!!

[@anthonyspadafora]

LaShawn Summers shut the frick up

[@lashawn0214]

Anthony Spadafora You mad or Nah💁🏽‍♀️

[@nurchonstore2371]

Anthony Spadafora no u lmao

[@orchidandsunflower4308]

@@lashawn0214 yo are a cool teacher lol

[@orchidandsunflower4308]

@@anthonyspadafora shut the Frisch up built like a Pringle

[@epicteddy9932]

Mr.Nicky GOT BARS THO 😫😫😤😤✔😱🤯💯💯💯

[@ailbionailbion3076]

My teacher playes this song at the end of class lol i love this song

[@MantoTenku]

My most favorite song from you Mr. Nicky! Keep it up so I can listen to your songs at school from my Social Studies Teacher!

[@gor5048]

Wow he's alive

[@jluton2193]

thought the same

[@tyler614]

Hey, nice to see you back at it! Love to listen to your songs in school when my world history teacher plays them!

[@luckytanuki6182]

Lol my history teacher used to play this when we were doing Ancient Africa. 😂

[@jaredbrot6252]

DUDE THIS IS FLAMES WHY IS IT SO GOOD.

[@malakosh9192]

I'm from morroco and when my teach told that morroco did something to songhai I waa like whattttt I didnt even know if ppl lived there

[@jamijoseph3700]

My class loves this song Soo much and my teacher plays this song all the time

[@fortnitexminecraftclips525]

Bro wtf my teacher assigned me to take 10 notes of this shit . Lmao I clicked on this expecting a old lady talking about this

[@alexs5814]

looolz^^

[@charlotteemily9432]

My history teacher played this and me and my friend were vibing😂

[@fruity9570]

Just found this fire track

[@piaalan3065]

BROO WHY DID I JUST STUDY I COULD HAVE JUST REWATCHED THIS VIDEO

[@kingbeanwatertheiii5234]

SALT, AND GOLD, AND PROFIT (PROFIT) 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@selenaq3854]

IM DEADDD 💀🤣🤣 MAH TEACHER PUT THIS ON IN FIRST PERIOD BECAUSE ITS ABOUT HISTORY AND LIKE BAHAHANWKS

[@nuggetsnuggets6760]

mer nicky we want merch

[@hrob2007]

Who takes the time to dislike a work of art.

[@drenjusaj6948]

I bet yall came from ur teachers here

[@es_lucid3113]

Yeah I did I’m doing homework

[@biggie357]

LOL IM DOING A PROJECT ON GHANA RN HAHA

[@thatsprettycringebro9078]

No

[@biggie357]

@@thatsprettycringebro9078 yes

[@ferretyluv]

My teacher taught us about this to the conga. “Mali, Ghana, SongHAI! Mali, Ghana, SongHAI!” I’ve remember it almost 20 years later.

[@poloverzi9586]

Please tell me 6th grade learns about this .-.

[@avam5545]

Nope

[@hopebrittain6697]

He0t Develops yep

[@riotriot6924]

nope

[@vexted273]

Yup my teacher played this

[@thosevibez9341]

Yes

[@traecyraepowers7328]

This was highly insightful fun and useful !

[@Slasher120]

Iconic song, true bar spitting - even better in bait and switch memes.

[@jimmccumber8841]

love you so much dude

[@tanvi.deokar]

your vids help soooo much :)

[@salvagemission9592]

I love this my history teacher plays this all the time

[@itsisabelle_y77]

my history teacher played this today and now i'm playing it on repeat

[@orchidandsunflower4308]

Me tooloo

[@Perrypool09]

I love your songs mr Nikki,will you make another and how hard is it,making all those words

[@faz..]

INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

[@thatrandomyfmfan4523]

I had to watch this in class today and I enjoyed it

[@barbaragibbs5643]

Loved it

[@craftingtable6248]

This is the best! Keep it up

[@sagepatterson9631]

Your songs are so catchy i subbed hope you have a great day

[@theshrecker7938]

These videos are great! Please keep them coming!

[@elawithmrs.parker8545]

Ayyyyyyyeeeeee!!!!!! eskeeit!!!! Well done Mr. Nicky! Nice song choice! :-)

[@jessyelaterreur7905]

Good informations 👍

[@mr.wilkes7364]

that wuz fiiiiire

[@lluvwezx]

my social studies teacher keeps replaying this in class

[@roshanproductions2341]

EPIC 🤯

[@kingdewoot]

this kinda fresh tho

[@benhunter3933]

Gotta do a live consert

[@chaseconte4014]

BARSSSSS

[@anikamp66]

You’re back!

[@iloveEdward22]

This is so great! Happy to see new material come out!

[@bolopopoy]

YAY

[@Imsorryman]

This saved my life.

[@digital_dreamer556]

absolute fire my guy

[@denkikalamri6503]

Banger

[@soyousee4850]

Love this song great social studies teacher

[@A_potato574]

My social studies teacher played this and all hell broke loose but tbh this song is fire 🗣️🔥🔥

[@Drizzy778]

SALT AND GOLD AND PROFIT 🗣️💯🔥🙏🔥

[@toxic_leo]

This one is a certified good classic

[@Stacksonem]

teaching about Ghana and Mali. Love trap, so do my students. We gon be lit in class. Thank you!

[@JUST_A_WILD_KING]

that was fire. I'm studying this right now.

[@rocketthink2162]

This is awesome

[@morgan3445]

This song is a certified bop. Mannn it had me turnt 😭

[@BakariLapsey-qo5zt]

I like this teaching it helps me to learn better

[@TC_gameing66]

Yooooo this hits

[@gokudrip9107]

Fire beat

[@ERNZSTO]

I have to memorize this for a project

[@jordynrossi5689]

we all know you can do it

[@thecornseller]

strength be with you brudda

[@Dylan-dh1iv]

How did you do

[@lauramoody8755]

I love your song

[@heatherlans668]

Dang Ms mion hooked me up with a new walk up song

[@Groovycompadre]

Mr. Nicky, we need merch. i would so get that. like a shirt or bedsheets. just think about it. ;)

[@Jennifer-sx5jd]

We love this song

[@btillm2]

My kids are going to go crazy when they hear this! They like to listen ahead anyway so they’ll probably find it. But this is awesome!

[@trethetree]

My fav

[@Puiron]

SHEEEESH HE REALLY HIT DAT SHIIII

[@Sahelian]

Ok I love this

[@axelskeleton3813]

bro this song is fire

[@Cleanmusicvideos2061]

This song is just funny 😂🤣

[@jonurquia8935]

We listened to this with our sub(our jerk) for social studies and now im addicted

[@TheLuckyTitan]

🔥

[@microwaveman34]

this is a banger

[@somemooshycheezballz4619]

Every one is lucky to be your student who every they are and my teacher plays your songs all the time

[@senpaisquil519]

We listen 2 these at school lol 🤣🤣