Rapping Postcoloniality: Akala’s “The Thieves Banquet” and Neocolonial Critique

Figures & data

Table 1. Formal Structure of “The Thieves Banquet”.

Formal Unit	Character	Accent	Musical Features
Introduction (0:00–1:36)	Narrator	Multicultural youth English (MYE)	Strings
Verse 1 (1:37–2:30)	Third world dictator	African English	Romantic-style piano
Chorus (2:31–2:44)		Backward vocal placement (heavy throat tone)	English choral technique
			Keyboard upbeats
Verse 2 (2:44–3:32)	Monarch of empire	Received pronunciation (with some slang and MYE elements)	Violoncello
Chorus (3:32–3:44)		Backward vocal placement (heavy throat tone)	English choral technique
			Keyboard upbeats
Verse 3 (3:44–4:33)	Head of religious order	Breathy received pronunciation	Church organ
Verse 4 (4:34–5:28)	Head of banking cartel	Received pronunciation (most theatrical delivery)	Operatic voice in background
Double Chorus (5:29–6:36)		Backward vocal placement (heavy throat tone)	English choral technique
			Keyboard upbeats
			Caribbean MC singing in outro