Liberian artists speak against drug use

Now two rising artists have spoken against the glorification of drugs by Liberian pop acts.

On social media, the singer Stunna expressed worry over the state of drug use. “As entertainers, many of us do not understand the influence we have on society. We have a serious uprising that if not properly tackled has the propensity of turning into an epidemic. We have the opportunity to help shape our nation, let’s be role models, not just musicians,” he wrote.

The Liberian Observer noted that the “new trend is disturbing” in the report which focussed on hipco, a popular local genre that has hip hop influences.

According to the report, “40 songs, out of the 50 [songs analysed from 2017], made huge reference to drugs and abusive remarks against women. They did not carry advisory parental explicit content and warning on Liberian music distributions websites, which are a major source for Liberian music.”

In a related but apparently unconnected post on social media, CIC, an artist, also commented on the prevalance of drug use. “Say no to drugs and if we don’t talk, it means our voices are useless,” he wrote on Facebook. “I did not get a dime from anyone but it is my responsibility as an entertainer to spread the message.”

Liberia is not the only country in West Africa dealing with the relationship between music and drugs. A few months ago, health authorities in Nigeria spoke out against rapper Olamide, who appeared to endorse drug use on the song ‘Science Student’. Subsequently, the country's broadcasting body banned the song from radio stations.

Weeks later, the BBC carried a report on codeine addiction in Nigeria. Heavily circulated and discussed online, it led to the Nigerian government closing a division of a prominent local drug manufacturer. The sale of codeine has also been banned by the government.