AWU “If A Can Can” — The Inspirational Song That Put Cameroon’s AWU on the Global Stage

The Story Behind “If A Can Can”

Before AWU Sing Song became known for records such as Sidomina, Yayayo, Dege Dege and Sounds of Heritage, there was “If A Can Can” — the inspirational song that introduced a new Cameroonian voice to audiences around the world.

Released in 2014, “If A Can Can” was created around the excitement and universal spirit of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Although it was never officially selected as FIFA’s World Cup theme, AWU’s own historical music archive describes the song as an unofficial World Cup theme song, created to combine the passion of football with a larger message about believing in oneself, pursuing dreams and using sport as a force for unity and positive change.

The song would become one of the defining records of AWU’s early career and remains one of the most recognizable titles associated with his name.

A Song Born From a Setback

The story behind “If A Can Can” is particularly meaningful because the song emerged from a moment when AWU himself was facing disappointment.

According to the historical Colby & Awu website, AWU created the song after he was denied a travel visa to the United States. Rather than allowing the setback to discourage him, he channelled the experience into music and created a song intended to renew his motivation and remind himself and others that limitations do not have to determine the future.

That personal experience became part of the song’s larger message.

Instead of focusing on failure, AWU turned toward possibility.

Instead of asking why something could not happen, the song asks listeners to consider what might be possible if they continue trying.

That idea is captured in the title itself: if someone else can achieve something, you can too.

“If A Can Can” and the 2014 World Cup

The timing of the song gave it an especially powerful platform.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was one of the world’s largest sporting events, bringing together countries, cultures and millions of football supporters. AWU used that environment as inspiration for a song that could speak to both football lovers and people pursuing personal ambitions.

The song’s concept connected the excitement of football with a broader message about human potential. Its lyrics encourage listeners to believe in themselves, face their fears and continue pursuing their goals, while using the shared experience of football as a metaphor for unity and human connection.

The result was a song that could work in a football stadium, among supporters watching a major tournament, or simply as an inspirational record for anyone facing a difficult moment.

More Than a Football Song

Although football provided the setting, “If A Can Can” was never simply about football.

At its heart is a message of personal empowerment.

AWU addresses young people, dreamers and anyone who may have been made to believe that their circumstances define what they can accomplish. The song encourages listeners to keep working, face challenges and believe that their own future can be brighter.

This is what gives “If A Can Can” its longevity.

The World Cup provided the moment

“If Another Can, Can”

The central idea of the song revolves around a powerful form of encouragement: if another person can accomplish something, there is no reason to automatically assume that you cannot.

AWU turns that idea into a repeated musical statement addressed to both “my brother” and “my sister.”

The message is deliberately inclusive.

It speaks to men and women, young people and adults, football players and spectators, artists and entrepreneurs. Everyone is encouraged to look beyond immediate limitations and recognize the possibilities ahead.

This universal quality helped make the song accessible beyond Cameroon.

From Bamenda to the World

“If A Can Can” also represents an important moment in AWU’s personal musical journey.

AWU grew up in Bamenda, Cameroon, with early exposure to both traditional and contemporary music. Before becoming widely known, he had already begun developing his abilities as a singer and performer and had participated in musical activities during his school years.

His professional journey accelerated around 2012, when he recorded “Change the World” and began working with American musician Colby Jeffers.

Their collaboration eventually produced the 2013 Change the World album.

The project established a foundation for AWU’s early artistic identity: music that could entertain while also carrying messages of hope, unity and positive change.

“If A Can Can” became the next major step in that journey.

The Song’s Connection to Football

Football is used throughout “If A Can Can” as more than a sporting reference.

AWU presents the game as an opportunity for people from different nations and cultures to gather in one place. The World Cup becomes a symbol of diversity, competition and togetherness.

The song recognizes that every country wants to win, but it also emphasizes the larger human experience created when people from around the world come together to celebrate the sport.

This approach allowed AWU to connect his musical message with one of Africa’s strongest cultural passions: football.

The 2023 Remake

Years after its original release, AWU revisited the song with “If A Can Can – Remake.”

The remake was released on March 31, 2023, through DeekayHouse Entertainment, giving a new generation of listeners an updated version of one of AWU’s defining early records. Apple Music classifies the release as an Afro-Beat single, while Spotify lists its duration at approximately 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

The remake demonstrates that the message behind the original song had not lost its relevance.

More than simply reproducing an old record, revisiting “If A Can Can” allowed AWU to reconnect his contemporary audience with one of the songs that helped establish his career.