Sierra Leone Says Bye-Bye To Ebola With Rap Song And Hip Dance Moves

WNYC | Nov 13, 2015

What does it feel like to kick out Ebola?

A music video from Sierra Leone makes it clear: pretty darn amazing. One South African publication calls it the "feel-good video of the year."

Sierra Leonean rappers Block Jones and the Freetown Uncut Collective have captured people's exuberance and relief in Bye Bye Ebola, a 3-minute song-and-dance number celebrating the country's new Ebola-free status.

In the video, people express their joy by doing the azonto, a dance craze kind of like the dougie or the nae nae.

"Thank God that it's over, no time for the haters," sings Block. "Now watch me do azonto!"

This part is probably the most heartwarming. Everyone — and we mean everyone — gets down, from nurses and burial teams at Ebola treatment centers to the military and the media. Even President Ernest Bai Koroma makes a cameo, flashing the "V for victory" sign.

Although it's not certain that Ebola won't ever return to Sierra Leone, for now, the country, which has endured 3,955 deaths from the virus, is thrilled to be saying bye-bye.

Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Top Stories

One Refugee’s Journey Through ICE Detention

How an Empire of Craft Stores Pushed an Agenda of Christian Nationalism

Flood Watch issued for NYC as rain and storms move in after picture-perfect weekend

Exploring an Olympics Bid for New York

YOU ARE ONLINE