The familiar strains of the Ghanaian political campaign song “John 3:16” took center stage on Wednesday night at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast following an exciting match between Zambia and DR Congo.
Originally composed for former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2016 General Elections in Ghana, the song echoed at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, bringing back memories of its widespread use in the political landscape.
The title of the song, inspired by a popular scripture in the Bible, generated various interpretations, with many associating it with Mahama as the saviour of Ghana, akin to the biblical portrayal of Jesus as the savior of the world. The name “John” coincided with the first name of the then President, while the numbers “3:16” were believed to represent Mahama’s position on the ballot paper and the election year, 2016.
Although the song did not lead to victory for the NDC in the 2016 elections, it retained relevance due to its catchy rhythm, prompting various improvised remixes. In a viral video on Twitter, the track played loudly after the game.
You won’t believe what the DJ at Stade Laurent Pokou was playing after 🇿🇲🇨🇩.
— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) January 17, 2024
This guy (John 3:16⛱) 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/up7bXJnFjN
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Black Stars face a challenging task on Thursday night as they prepare to encounter the seven-time champions, Egypt, in their second group game of the ongoing tournament.
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Following their initial defeat against Cape Verde, Chris Hughton’s team is eager to secure their first win in the competition. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm local time at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
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