2006年VOA标准英语-Guinea's Rappers Offer Voice of Dissent
时间:2019-01-07 作者:英语课 分类:2006年VOA标准英语(一月)
By Nico Colombant and Pauline Bax
Abidjan and Conakry
09 January 2006
Youth struggling to make ends meet in Conakry, Guinea
In the West African nation, Guinea, which some economists 1 fear could collapse 2 amid bad governance, the musical style of rapping offers the only voice of popular dissent 3.
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Music heard from the Guinean rap album called "Son Galanyi." One fan, purchasing the tape at a market stall, explains the meaning of the album's title.
"It means a sound of thunder, sound of thunder," he said. "That's why I like it, it's just about the struggle that is going on in the country. There is no job for the boys, for the youths. People are struggling. That's why I like it."
A market vendor 4 fumbles 5 through the many rap tapes he is selling. He is all out of Son Galanyi, because the album is so popular.
He refuses to be interviewed. Many Guineans, including opposition 6 leaders, shy away from directly discussing anything critical of President Lansana Conte.
The former soldier has been in power since a coup 7 in 1984. Recently, there has been growing unemployment, elections tainted 8 by cheating, rumors 9 of coup plots and riots against rising prices of rice.
The rappers behind Son Galanyi discuss all these problems.
Water is scarcer and scarcer in Guinea
Using a mixture of French, Soussou, Malinke and Fulani, they openly denounce what they view as Mr. Conte's misrule.
Another fan, a security guard refuses to be identified, but agrees to talk in French about why he likes the music.
He says the rappers understand the suffering of the common man. He says most people are afraid to criticize, so the rappers do it for them. He says they speak the truth.
On a beachfront of Conakry, with the sound of waves and traffic as backdrop, amateur rappers, inspired by the Son Galanyi album, gather for an impromptu 10 freestyle session.
They sing "Mr. President wake up, because your people are being abandoned like stray dogs." They say shameful 11 intellectuals are being manipulated, electricity no longer works, water does not run, girls are becoming prostitutes and schools are decaying. All they have to pass time, it seems, are their angry words.
- The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
- Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
- The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
- It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
- He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。
- She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
- He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。
- Van der Meyde boots the ball to safety after Toldo fumbles a right cross. 因为托尔多在右侧漏球,范得美德把球护到安全的地方。
- The placement shot fumbles the primary cause which into this competition Chinese army loses the game. 定位球失球成为本场比赛汉军输球的主要原因。
- The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
- The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
- The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
- That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。
- The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
- He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
- The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。