In Abissinia playlist

In Abissinia - African songs - 2

In addition to the economic and institutional efforts made to support the Italian war expedition in Ethiopia, the Fascist regime gave precise indications as to how to create social consensus around the military operations using all communication channels, through literature, radio programmes, journalism, film and music. The “African songs” ​​sometimes went beyond the suggestions coming from above and crossed the limits imposed, spreading appreciation of Abyssinian women. Governmental circles attempted some damage control exercising a real censorship that, as it happened,  hit one of the most famous songs of this repertoire, Faccetta nera. Despite their catchy tunes, other songs did not hide the true and atrocious nature of the racist policy of extermination unleashed against the Ethiopian people: a blatant example is Topolino in Abissinia, a song addressed to an audience of teenagers that mentions asphyxiating gases and the skins of the enemy to be used as “upholstery”.