Dolly Parton’s reach as a musical icon extended far beyond the hills of Appalachia, leaving a lasting impact across the African continent. From Lagos to Nairobi and Johannesburg, fans and fellow musicians are mourning her death this week, reflecting on how her ballads of rural struggle and humble beginnings resonated deeply with their own experiences.
Esther Konkara, a 39-year-old singer often referred to as "the Kenyan Dolly Parton," noted that growing up in a dusty, semi-arid village made Parton's storytelling feel personal. She explained that the themes of poverty and rural life in Parton's music mirrored the backgrounds of many Kenyans, which helped foster a genuine love for country music in the region. This passion is celebrated annually at the Cowboys and Cowgirls Day festival in Kenya, where fans don western attire to dance to country hits.
In Nairobi, the sentiment remains one of collective grief. Nigerian country artist Ochiora Okogeri, known by the stage name The Country Man, expressed his shock at the news of her passing. Okogeri, who performs in Stetson and cowboy boots, emphasized that Parton’s music was defined by its soul, truth, and down-to-earth nature. He noted that his Nigerian audiences consistently offer an open, warm reception to her classic, "Coat of Many Colors." In response to her death, fans in Nairobi planned a candlelight vigil and barbecue to honor her memory.
Parton’s influence in Africa transcended the typical country music fanbase, reaching even the highest levels of political life. The late anti-apartheid icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela was a notable admirer of her work. According to fellow inmates, Mandela was particularly fond of the song "Jolene" and would request that it be played over the loudspeakers at Robben Island. Decades later, the song’s legacy continued in South Africa when the Ndlovu Youth Choir released a version in 2020 that incorporated isiZulu lyrics.
The country legend also shared a direct professional connection with South African artists. She collaborated with the renowned a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on her album Treasures. Sibongiseni Shabalala Shabalala Shabalala Shabalala, the group's leader, recalls their first meeting in 1995 as a joyful experience, describing Parton as a lovely person who was easy to work with. The artists also performed a rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door" together and last saw her in 2018 during a performance at Dollywood. Reflecting on her passing, Shabalala expressed hope that the world would find comfort in the music and support Parton shared throughout her life.
"I think by Dolly singing songs about growing up in rural areas back there in America, and a lot of us having grown up in rural areas and in poor backgrounds it resonates so well with us," she explained.
Dolly Parton performing in Nashville, Tennessee in 2014. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images hide caption
