
From Kenya to South Africa, fans and musicians mourn the global icon whose rural roots and ballads resonated deeply across the continent.
African country music stars and fans express grief over the death of Dolly Parton, whose ballads of rural hardship and humble beginnings resonated deeply across the continent from Kenya to South Africa.
AI-generated summary
Dolly Parton was a legendary global country music star known for hits like 'Jolene' and 'Coat of Many Colors'.
JOHANNESBURG—Dolly Parton was truly a global star, her reach extending from the hills of Appalachia to the savannas of Africa, where she was beloved across the continent—from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg.
At the news of her death this week, African country music stars and fans told NPR they could relate to Parton's background and her ballads of rural hardship and struggle.
Esther Konkara, a singer known as "the Kenyan Dolly Parton," said that growing up in a semi-arid, dusty Kenyan village, Dolly's songs just spoke to her.
"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.
"I think that's why there is a lot of love for country music in Kenya," the 39-year-old added.
So much so, in fact, that there's now an annual Cowboys and Cowgirls Day festival where Kenyans — and fans from all over — don western garb and dance to country music.
Elijah Manyeki, who owns a niche but popular Nairobi store selling cowboy apparel, is the event's main organizer.
"The whole of Africa, we are in shock, and we can't believe Dolly she's no more," he told NPR, adding that he was holding a candlelight vigil and barbecue in Nairobi for Dolly fans to come together and remember her.
That connection isn't unique to Kenya. In Nigeria, Ochiora Okogeri, known by his stage name The Country Man, is also feeling Dolly's loss.
"Dolly sang about love, Dolly sang about heartbreak, she sang about simplicity and humble beginnings, you know, and these things are I think very relatable to most Africans, she was pretty down-to-earth in her songs."
Dressed in a Stetson and cowboy boots, he also covers Dolly songs, and says his audience has a clear favorite.
"There was so much soul and truth in her songs, particularly 'Coat of Many Colors' when I sing in Nigeria there is always a very open reception for it."
Dolly's appeal in Africa wasn't limited to country music's devoted fans. In South Africa, she counted some surprising admirers — including former President Nelson Mandela.
The anti-apartheid icon was particularly fond of "Jolene" and, according to fellow inmates, would ask for it to be played over the loudspeakers at Robben Island.
Decades later, the song found a new South African interpretation when the Ndlovu Youth Choir recorded a version in 2020, adding lines in isiZulu.
Dolly herself was no stranger to South African music. She collaborated with one of the country's great musical legends, the a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, on her album Treasures.
"We first met Mama Dolly in 1995," recalls the group's leader Sibongiseni Shabalala. "It was a very, very happy session, she was a very lovely person, very easy to work with."
They also did a rendition of Bob Dylan's song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" together, and Ladysmith last saw her in 2018 when they performed at Dollywood.
Shabalala said her legacy will live on.
"We are very sad to hear of her passing, we hope everyone will be comforted by the work that she has done, supporting everyone, and sharing her music with everyone in the world — beautiful music."

Nepal authorities issued fresh flood warnings Sunday following increased water flow in the Bhotekoshi River, as the death toll from a devastating glacial collapse and subsequent floods across Nepal and Tibet climbed past 760 with thousands missing.

Voters in Iceland narrowly rejected resuming talks about joining the European Union, with 52.8 percent voting against in a referendum. Citizens expressed concerns over fisheries, currency sovereignty, and influence within the bloc.

Monsoon rains and blocked roads are delaying delivery of food, shelter, and emergency hygiene supplies to survivors of Nepal's catastrophic floods, according to World Vision's Dhruba Gurmachhan, who outlines the most urgent needs on the ground.

At least 37 people were killed in a Russian strike near Kyiv that hit a warehouse and triggered explosions, damaging a care home for elderly and disabled people and over 50 residential buildings in Bucha district. Ukrainian officials blamed negligent weapons storage near civilians, while Russia claimed the strike targeted drone components and also hit ports in Mykolaiv and Izmail. The attack marks the third day of near-constant Russian air raids on Kyiv, disrupting civilian life and the economy more than 4½ years after the full-scale invasion began.
The death toll is rising after a glacial collapse triggered severe floods in Nepal and Tibet, leaving thousands missing. The U.S. State Department confirmed 90 Americans are among the unaccounted for and pledged $500,000 in aid for rescue operations.

Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at age 80, prompting nationwide tributes, plans to rename Nashville's airport in her honor, and lowered flags.