M.I.A. this past week released a new audiovisual project titled “Matahdatah Scroll 01 ‘Broader Than A Border.'” The video features two songs, “Warriors” from her 2013 album, Matangi, plus the previously unreleased “Swords,” which will be including in her upcoming album Matahdatah. The video is themed around different forms of traditional dance practiced in India and Cote d’Ivoire.
Earlier this year while in the midst of making what one can assume was this video, M.I.A. on Twitter brought up accusations of appropriation (by whom is unclear), which she said prevented her from using imagery shot in Africa. It appears she came out on the winning side of that debate, as the notes accompanying the video state: “The ‘Warriors’ video was shot in Cote d’Ivoire with a guy I saw in a youtube video doing the most incredible dancing. I tracked down that exact guy, flew out there and played him the Warriors track. He did his thing for me.”
Though after all the back and forth about appropriation, which at the minimum speaks to providing creatives with credit, ironically she doesn’t provide the dancer’s name. That said, there is the possibility it was the dancer’s wish to remain anonymous. According to Fader, he is a “member of a Zaouli troupe from central-western Ivory Coast, likely from the towns of Bouaflé or Manfla.’
Below see some visuals that M.I.A. has published on her website to accompany the video.
