"GOD PROTECT IBRAHIM TRAORE" STRIKES A CHORD ONLINE AMID ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

An artificial intelligence-generated song featuring the recreated voice of incarcerated R&B star R. Kelly is making waves online. The emotionally charged track, titled “God Protect Ibrahim Traore, Protect Burkina Faso,” went viral shortly after a reported assassination attempt on the country’s transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traore.

The A.I.-rendered song blends gospel and soul influences, delivering a heartfelt plea to God for the protection of both Traore and the people of Burkina Faso. In one particularly stirring verse, the virtual voice sings:

“In the heart of Africa I see your flame, a young man rise, we call his name… Ibrahim Traore standing tall, for the love of his people he risked it all.”

The A.I.-produced music video opens with a teary-eyed digital representation of R. Kelly, seated at a piano in a dimly lit room. Dressed in a black suit and sporting his signature cornrows, the virtual figure sets a somber tone before the video shifts to scenes of Traore on the battlefield.

Dramatic visuals depict Traore as a fearless commander rallying his troops, surviving gunfire, and receiving support from civilians—symbolic of his rapid rise from military officer to head of state.

Captain Ibrahim Traore took power in September 2022 through a military coup. Since then, he has gained both domestic and regional attention for sweeping economic reforms. Notably, Traore is credited with eliminating Burkina Faso’s $4.7 billion external debt and reclaiming national control over its gold mining sector.

To supporters, Traore represents a new wave of pan-African leadership rooted in self-determination and economic sovereignty.

While many have praised the A.I. track as a symbol of hope and solidarity, critics have raised concerns over the ethical implications of using an incarcerated artist’s voice without consent.

Nonetheless, the song continues to trend globally, amassing millions of views and sparking discussions around the power of A.I. in reshaping political narratives, music, and celebrity influence.