what is the Ivorian “Hammer Blow”?

The hit has made CAN supporters dancing and has exploded on social networks since Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the quarter-finals on Monday January 29.

Nothing to do with a possible technical movement and even less with DIY: since the start of the African Cup of Nations, the expression “Hammer blow” has come up regularly in the stadiums, the streets but especially on social networks. And after the victory of Côte d’Ivoire, miraculously qualified in 8th, against Senegal on Monday January 29 in Yamoussoukro on penalties, the “blow of the hammer” was at the top of trends on X (formerly Twitter) and well ahead of searches on Google in France.

The answer is actually musical: the title has in fact unofficially become the anthem of the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. “Hammer blow“, of beatmaker Ivorian Tam Sir, unveiled on December 8, has since been broadcast on repeat, in the streets and nightclubs of Abidjan, when the official anthem, Akwaba by Magic System struggles to get the crowds dancing. Proof of this is the number of views of “Hammer blow“: the song has almost 18 million views on YouTube.

“Hammer blow!”

When it comes to lyrics, you have to follow the rhythm: “Ivory Coast welcomes Africa and this is our way of saying Akwaba [“bienvenue” en dialecte twi] to all our guests“, the singers chant. “We push, we push, we push! Hammer Strike! Hammer blow !” And, as if to punctuate the musical success, the musician, well surrounded by Ste Milano, Team Paiya, Renard Barakissa, Tazeboy and PSK, performed a choreography that was easy to imitate: thrusts which punctuate the famous “hammer blow”.

Initially, the single had nothing to do with the CAN, confided the artist, on the set of the Ivorian show La Télé d’ici. By taking an interest in current events in his country, Tam Sir ended up taking inspiration from the sound of the foghorns of Elephants supporters and including it in his production.

A hit which should undoubtedly resonate several more days before the quarter-final of the CAN, where the Ivorians will face the winner of the Mali-Burkina Faso match on February 3.