I wrote this rap in 2005 during Omar Bongo's re-election and the clashes that ensued. I've lived in France and Canada, and I think leaving my country has allowed me to see things more clearly from a distance.

We were a state full of promise after we gained independence in 1960. Considering how small our country is, we should have more than enough natural resources. I tried to understand what was behind this stagnation, this regression, the enormous gap between rich and poor.

Those who really gain from our natural resources are a mere minority, often close to the presidential family.

When I started rapping Gabon was still a peaceful country. But we could see that things were deteriorating, and that our prospects didn't look bright.

I talk about our love/hate relationship with the president in the rap. Some love him for his paternal side, but many poor people quite simply hate him. Going back to the country's ghettos, which we call mapanes, I saw extreme poverty and wretchedness, and I was left really affected.

I was also intrigued by the dark side of France's involvement in Africa, particularly concerning international petrol companies. I wanted to touch the young Gabonese who are into rap and hip hop, who are often entirely disinterested by politics and don't believe that change is possible.

“Nothing's changed”

Since then nothing's changed. On the contrary. Schooling problems are worse than ever — once again exam results are being threatened. Relations with France are far from sound, and the successive deaths of the first lady and the President Bongo could spark a troublesome and insecure period. The authorities might be quite right in their decision to close the borders and ports and impose a 30-day curfew.

The majority of Gabonese (we have a young population) has never known anything but Bongo's regime. So they don't know what to think or how to feel. Many are anxiously waiting for what happens next and hoping for change. Others say that it's more realistic to expect the “Bongo dynasty” continue. It's undeniable that the president did help to sort out various problems in Africa, particularly in the west of the continent. He was, after all, the “doyen” of Africa. His death will be felt beyond Gabon.

His successor will surely be somebody close to him. In my opinion, the only chance that person has of getting the country to trust him is to be different. Maybe by nominating a prime minister from the opposition or at least beginning to form a coalition government.

“Pay more attention to talent than ethnicity”

This government should also be careful to pay more attention to talent than ethnicity, geopolitics having shown its limits. The risk of revolt remains, but taking into account our subdued nature as a nation, the scenario is unlikely, or at least less likely than in our neighbouring countries.