African music activists meet in Uganda

The dialogue takes place at the Uganda National Museum where a number of prominent musician-activists will discuss their role of using music and fame to raise awareness about social issues as well as the role of social media in respect to freedom of expression.

In March this year, politically vocal Tanzanian hip hop artist Nay Wa Mitego was arrested for releasing ‘Wapo’ which allegedly insulted the country’s President John Magufuli. The rap song’s lyrics suggest that government officials in Tanzania abuse drugs and use forged diplomas to get into positions of power. Similarly, in Ethiopia, seven Oromo artists were arrested and charged earlier this year for terrorism as well as producing and uploading politically charged songs on online streaming service YouTube.

To avoid similar occurrences, the artists will engage with various music industry stakeholders to discuss the different roles in supporting socially conscious music, creating platforms for self-empowerment and critically analysing the space they operate in. The discussion will also involve talks on funding structures, censorship and self-censorship.

The artists who are part of the dialogue will then collaborate on a song that will be recorded at Fire Base Studio in the Ugandan capital this week.

The artists who will be involved in the dialogue and concert include Bobi Wine, who was elected as a Uganda MP in June, Lady Slyke (Uganda), MC Yallah (Kenya/Uganda), St Nelly-Sade (Uganda), Sylvester & Abramz (Uganda), Megaloh (Germany), Ghanaian Stallion (Ghana), Monza (Mauritania), Xuman L'officiel (Senegal), Nash MC (Tanzania), Juma (Kenya), Eric Onekey (Rwanda) and Outspoken Tha Humble Neophyte (Zimbabwe).

The concert, titled Your Music Your Voice, will take place at the Design Hub Kampala on 4 October from 7pm. Tickets are available at Goethe-Zentrum Kampala UGCS, Que Pasa Kampala and Design Hub Kampala.

Megaloh and Ghanaian Stallion will subsequently tour Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the DRC with the support of Goethe-Zentrum.