| Africa | |
| Cover: | Africa_(voodoo_master).jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Rose Laurens |
| Album: | Déraisonnable |
| B-Side: | Broken Heart |
| Released: | October 1982 (french) March 1983 (english) |
| Recorded: | 1982 |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 5:00 (album version) 3:28 (single version) |
| Label: | WEA |
| Composer: | Jean-Pierre Goussaud |
| Lyricist: | Jean-Michel Bériat (french) Elaine Stive (english) |
| Producer: | Jean-Pierre Goussaud |
| Prev Title: | Pas facile |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Africa (Voodoo Master) |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
"Africa" is a 1982 song recorded by French singer Rose Laurens. It was one of the singles from her first album Déraisonnable and was released in France at the end of 1982. A version with English lyrics, titled "Africa (Voodoo Master)", was released worldwide in March 1983. The version available on the 7" is shorter than on the album, as the musical bridge is shortened and there are fewer refrains. It immediately became a smash hit in many countries, reaching the top of the charts. In 1994, a CD maxi of remixes was released, but failed to chart.
The single was a commercial success, reaching the top one in Austria, and remained for 16 weeks in the top twenty.[1] In Norway, the single charted for 15 weeks in the top ten, including a peak at number two for two weeks.[2] The song appeared for ten weeks in the top 15 in Switzerland, with a peak at number two.[3] In Germany, "Africa" charted for 23 weeks and peaked at number three in its fourth week.[4]
In France, there was no official singles chart then, but it reached Platinum status with a million copies sold.
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 1 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart[5] | 7 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[6] | 18 |