Africa ( Toto song ) - wikipedia Africa ( Toto song ) `` Africa '' U.S. 7 - inch ( 180 mm ) shaped picture disc edition Single by Toto from the album Toto IV B - side `` Good for You '' ( The Americas ) `` We Made It '' ( international ) Released May 10, 1982 ( 1982 - 05 - 10 ) ( Europe ) October 30, 1982 ( 1982 - 10 - 30 ) ( U.S. ) Format 7 ``, 12 '', CD single Recorded October 18, 1981 ( 1981 - 10 - 18 ) Genre Pop rock soft rock Length 4 : 55 ( album version ) 4 : 21 ( radio edit ) 7 : 05 ( extended ) Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) David Paich, Jeff Porcaro Producer ( s ) Toto Toto singles chronology `` Make Believe '' ( 1982 ) `` Africa '' ( 1982 ) `` I Wo n't Hold You Back '' ( 1982 ) `` Make Believe '' ( 1982 ) `` Africa '' ( 1982 ) `` I Wo n't Hold You Back '' ( 1982 ) Music video Toto - Africa on YouTube Audio sample file help `` Africa '' is a 1982 song by the American rock band Toto. It was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and released as a single on September 30, 1982. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 5, 1983 ( the band 's only number one there ), and number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month. The song was written by the band 's keyboardist / vocalist David Paich and drummer Jeff Porcaro. Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 Reception 4 Personnel 4.1 Guest musicians 5 Charts and certifications 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 5.3 Sales and certifications 6 Samples 7 Covers 8 In popular culture 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Background The initial idea and words for the song came from David Paich. Jeff Porcaro explains the idea behind the song : `` a white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he 's never been there, he can only tell what he 's seen on TV or remembers in the past. '' Songwriter David Paich said : At the beginning of the ' 80s I watched a late night documentary on TV about all the terrible death and suffering of the people in Africa. It both moved and appalled me, and the pictures just would n't leave my head. I tried to imagine how I 'd feel about if I was there and what I 'd do. In 2015 Paich explained the song is about a man 's love of a continent : Africa, rather than just a personal romance. Musically, the song took quite some time to assemble, as Paich and Porcaro explain : On `` Africa '' you hear a combination of marimba with GS 1. The kalimba is all done with the GS 1 ; it 's six tracks of GS 1 playing different rhythms. I wrote the song on CS - 80, so that plays the main part of the entire tune. So when we were doing `` Africa '' I set up a bass drum, snare drum and a hi - hat, and Lenny Castro set up right in front of me with a conga. We looked at each other and just started playing the basic groove... The backbeat is on 3, so it 's a half - time feel, and it 's 16th notes on the hi - hat. Lenny started playing a conga pattern. We played for five minutes on tape, no click, no nothing. We just played. And I was singing the bass line for ' Africa ' in my mind, so we had a relative tempo. Lenny and I went into the booth and listened back to the five minutes of that same boring pattern. We picked out the best two bars that we thought were grooving, and we marked those two bars on tape... Maybe it would have taken two minutes to program that in the Linn, and it took about half an hour to do this. But a Linn machine does n't feel like that ! Porcaro also acknowledged that he was influenced by the sounds created by fellow Los Angeles session musicians Milt Holland and Emil Richards in addition to the New York World 's Fair and a National Geographic Special. Music video The music video was directed by Steve Barron. In the video, a researcher in a library ( portrayed by band member David Paich ) tries to match a scrap of a picture of a shield to the book from which it was torn out. As he continues his search, a librarian ( Jenny Douglas - McRae ) working at a desk takes occasional notice of him, while natives in the surrounding jungle begin to close in on the library. When the researcher finds a book entitled Africa, the native throws a spear ( the shield the native carries is the same as the one in the picture ), toppling stacks of books. Africa falls open to the page from which the scrap was torn, but a lantern lands on it and sets it on fire, after which the librarian 's eyeglasses are shown falling to the floor. The scenes are intercut with shots of a spinning globe and the band performing atop a stack of giant hardcover books, in which Africa is the topmost. This video also features Mike Porcaro on bass, replacing David Hungate, who had already left the band before the video was made. Reception In 2012, `` Africa '' was listed by music magazine NME in 32nd place on its list of `` 50 Most Explosive Choruses ''. Personnel David Paich -- lead vocals ( verses ) and backing vocals, piano, synthesizer Bobby Kimball -- lead vocals ( chorus ), backing vocals Steve Lukather -- backing vocals, guitar David Hungate -- bass Jeff Porcaro -- drums, percussion Steve Porcaro -- synthesizer Guest musicians Jim Horn -- recorders Lenny Castro -- congas, percussion Joe Porcaro -- marimbas, percussion Timothy B. Schmit -- backing vocals, rhythm guitar Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1982 -- 83 ) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report 5 Austrian Top 40 7 Belgian Singles Chart 8 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 8 Canadian RPM Top Singles Dutch Singles Chart Europarade 17 Finnish Singles Chart 18 French Singles Chart 27 German Singles Chart 14 Irish Singles Chart Italian Singles Chart 22 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 8 Polish Singles Chart 19 South African Singles Chart 18 Spanish Radio Chart 18 Swiss Singles Chart 6 UK Singles Chart U.S. Billboard Hot 100 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart ( 2013 ) Peak position New Zealand RMNZ Singles Chart 5 Year - end charts Chart ( 1982 ) Peak position Belgian VRT Top 30 85 Dutch Top 40 18 German Media Control Chart 88 Chart ( 1983 ) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report 25 Canadian RPM Top Singles 16 Italian Singles Chart 75 UK Singles Chart 38 US Billboard Hot 100 24 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Gold 50,000 Italy ( FIMI ) Gold 15,000 New Zealand ( RMNZ ) Gold 5,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold 400,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 500,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone In addition to the above, the song also reached number 1 on the New Zealand iTunes chart on May 15, 2013. Samples 2002 : Ja Rule sampled the song on his song `` Murder Reigns '' taken from his fourth studio album The Last Temptation 2006 : American pop singer JoJo sampled `` Africa '' in her song `` Anything '', which served as the third single from her 2006 sophomore studio album, The High Road. 2006 : Lebanese - Canadian pop / R&B singer Karl Wolf sampled `` Africa '' in his own remake, also called `` Africa '', with added lyrics and musical composition and arrangement. The Karl Wolf song featured a rap section by the Canadian - Bahamian rapper Culture. The track served as the first single from his 2007 sophomore studio album, Bite the Bullet, and reached number 2 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. 2010 : American experimental artist Daniel Lopatin heavily sampled `` Africa '' in the song `` A1 '', a song featured in Chuck Person 's Eccojams Vol. 1. 2011 : American pop / R&B singer Jason Derulo sampled `` Africa '' in his song `` Fight for You '' from his 2011 sophomore studio album, Future History. Stevie Hoang had originally recorded `` Fight for You '' in 2011 for his third independent album, Unsigned with his original track featuring vocals from Iyaz. 2016 : Swedish production duo Bacall & Malo sampled `` Africa '' in their remake, also called `` Africa '', with added lyrics and musical composition and arrangement. The Bacall & Malo music video also featured vocals by UK - based Nigerian singer Prince Osito. The track was the debut charting single of the Swedish duo peaking at number 18 on Sverigetopplistan, the official Swedish Singles Chart. Covers 2011 : Pop Punk band Quietdrive featured a cover version on their album Your Record / Our Spin 2011 : Pop Punk band Relient K released a cover version on their covers album Is for Karaoke 2012 : Progressive metal band Chaos Divine released a cover version as a single. 2016 : Metalcore band Affiance released a cover version as a single. 2017 : Metal by Leo Moracchioli ( Frog Leap studio ) feat. Rabea & Hannah In popular Culture The song was used in an advertisement for Castle Lager in South Africa in the late 1990s. The song was used in the video game Grand Theft Auto : Vice City on the fictional radio station Emotion 98.3. A Foster Farms commercial in the United States features a choir of animatronic chickens singing the song as part of the poultry producer 's `` Amazing Chicken '' campaign. The song was featured at the beginning of the Scrubs episode `` My Way Home ''. The song was being played through J.D. 's iPod and the band 's name was the first of many references to The Wizard of Oz in the episode. `` Africa '' was featured in multiple episodes of the 20th season of South Park. The song was featured in the first episode of the first season of Stranger Things. See also List of RPM number - one singles of 1983 List of Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles of 1983 References ^ Jump up to : `` Toto - Africa at Discogs. ( ONLINE ) ''. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Explore : Soft Rock Top Songs ''. AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official TOTO Website - Encyclopedia ''. www.toto99.com. April 18, 2007. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Official TOTO Website - Releases ''. www.toto99.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011. Jump up ^ Melissa Locker ( May 5, 2015 ). `` Q&'80s : Toto 's Dave Paich on Writing and Recording ' Africa ' ''. Grantland.com. ( end paragraph 2 and 8 ). Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016. Jump up ^ Keyboard, 09 / 1995 Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Toto - `` Africa '' ``. mvdbase.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 50 Most Explosive Choruses - # 32 Toto - Africa - NME.COM ''. NME. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. ^ Jump up to : Steffen Hung. `` Toto - Africa ''. swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2011. Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ''. Nztop40.co.nz. November 14, 1982. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016. Jump up ^ `` UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts ''. Everyhit.com. March 16, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2011. Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ''. Nztop40.co.nz. May 20, 2013. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Talent Almanac 1984 '' ( PDF ). Billboard. 95 ( 52 ). Billboard Publications, Inc. December 24, 1983. p. TA - 18. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Retrieved February 25, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Toto -- Africa ''. Music Canada. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- Toto -- Africa '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Jump up ^ `` New Zealand single certifications -- Toto -- Africa ''. Recorded Music NZ. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Toto -- Africa ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter Africa in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Toto -- Africa ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ `` Toto thanks NZ for No. 1 single - 30 years later - Entertainment - NZ Herald News ''. Nzherald.co.nz. May 16, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Karl Wolf ''. billboard.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Chuck Person : Chuck Person 's Eccojams Vol. 1 ''. Spectrum Culture. December 4, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Bacall & Malo - Africa ''. swedishcharts.com. Jump up ^ `` Spotify ''. Jump up ^ `` Spotify ''. Jump up ^ `` Metal Music Archives ''. Jump up ^ `` Song Premiere : Affiance Cover Toto 's `` Africa '' ``. Newnoisemagazine.com. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Youtube ''. Jump up ^ `` Top Ten South African adverts from our younger days ''. The South African. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The 25 Best Songs From The Grand Theft Auto : Vice City Soundtrack ''. Complex. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Foster Farms ' Harmonic Choir of ' Amazing Chickens ' ''. Little Black Book. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016. Jump up ^ Savorelli, Antonio ( April 13, 2010 ). Beyond Sitcom : New Directions in American Television Comedy. McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 9780786458431. Retrieved February 17, 2017. Jump up ^ Caffrey, Dan. `` In the dawn of the Trump era, the satire on South Park writes itself ''. A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Stranger Things - S1E1 `` The Vanishing Will Byers '' List of Songs ``. What - song. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017. Further reading Jeff Porcaro reminisces about how the song 's percussion tracks took shape at Mix External links Billboard Chart Listing - Allmusic.com Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Africa official video on YouTube Toto Steve Lukather David Paich Steve Porcaro Joseph Williams David Hungate Bobby Kimball Jeff Porcaro Mike Porcaro Fergie Frederiksen Jean - Michel Byron Simon Phillips Greg Phillinganes Keith Carlock Studio albums Toto Hydra Turn Back Toto IV Isolation Fahrenheit The Seventh One Kingdom of Desire Tambu Toto XX Mindfields Through the Looking Glass Falling in Between Toto XIV Live albums Toto Live Absolutely Live Livefields Live in Amsterdam Falling in Between Live Compilation albums Past to Present 1977 -- 1990 Best Ballads The Essential Toto Soundtracks Dune Notable songs `` Hold the Line '' `` I 'll Supply the Love '' `` Georgy Porgy '' `` 99 '' `` Rosanna '' `` Make Believe '' `` Africa '' `` I Wo n't Hold You Back '' `` Stranger in Town '' `` I 'll Be Over You '' `` Stop Loving You '' `` Pamela '' `` 2 Hearts '' `` I Will Remember '' `` Bottom of Your Soul '' Related people Lenny Castro Nathan East Boz Scaggs Tony Spinner Leland Sklar Related articles Discography Members Book : Toto Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Africa_(Toto_song)&oldid=800747490 '' Categories : 1982 songs 1982 singles 1983 singles Toto ( band ) songs 1980s ballads Pop ballads Rock ballads Soft rock songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Songs written by David Paich Music videos directed by Steve Barron Columbia Records singles Songs written by Jeff Porcaro Songs about Africa Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Use mdy dates from September 2017 Articles with hAudio microformats Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Ilokano Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Português Русский Slovenščina Suomi Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 15 September 2017, at 12 : 23. 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Question: who sings i bless the rains down in africa
Answer: Toto