Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Nado presents The Politics of African Music: Songs of Protest, Revolution and Liberation

As Ken Wiwa, the son of Ken Saro-Wiwa, leader of the Ogoni people who was assasinated by the Nigerian government in 1995, said, “When voices like my father are silenced, others rise and often they belong to musicians. Africa’s musicians carry a sacred burden—they are the griots, the historians of Africa’s rich, varied, and infinitely complex past.”

In this series Emmanuel Nado explores the historical involvement of music in Africa politics, the delicate and intricate relationship between African musicians and African leaders. From songs of praise to songs of protest, we’ll feature the music of outspoken African artists and their impact on the political development of their respective countries.

Photo of Ken Saro-Wiwa © BBC News