Music and Politics: a Forbidden Love Affair
Music and politics have had a long intimate connection over the years! Something most people try to deny as they dissociate themselves from anything that has to do with politics.
Well who can blame them! When you live in a country where freedom of press/speech Is effective only on paper but not in real life. Music is a medium where messages of love , passion, freedom,peace and more are passed on to the general public.
But everyone has to pretend because they are afraid of the consequences! And those who are brave enough get reprimanded ,locked up or dissappear after a while so honestly who can blame anyone from dissociation ? Separating themselves completely from anything political?.
The late Lapiro DE Banga in his songs ,through mboko slangs talked of the injustice of the system! Of corruption and murders,betrayal and a failed system..his stance was clear…
well there were consequences!Longue Longue was a man for the people until he tasted the consequences of talking openly and discrediting the government. He had to beg on his knees , for the return of his passport that was seized!!
thing is what do we do now? Play it safe and act like everything is OK, or take the bull by the horns and look the devil in the eye knowing what comes after?
Charlotte`s Perspective
Charlotte Dipanda has been known for her calmness, being soft spoken , super gifted and cute…a while ago she made a statement that made her the Centre of attention of critics..during an interview while talking about the beauty of the culture of cameroonians from different regions she mentioned that she has known just one president and I quote:
“But I admit, take me for example I have known only one president”.
It would do me alot of good to have another option,to tell myself that it is another Era that is inescapably revolutionized …
And we need to see what this country can bring to these youths that is different because, it is a youthfulness that is also open to the exterior..and they see what happens outside..and who have as duty in any case to also hope for their country “
I think it’s time they propose something else to us.it is time Cameroon developed. Because as long as there’s no alteration ,truely there’s no possible developement. I think the state has actually come to the end of what they have to offer to Cameroon and humbly,they’ll win if they give way to a new governance “
Reactions
Where is the lie? So much for freedom of speech.. to the point where veteran artist Djene Djento asked her to apologize to the head of state! Dissassociating himself from her and her utterances.
Music for ages has been an outlet for some people to talk about what they undergo ,what they face , as a person and as a people. For fear of bad consequences people have developed coded languages ,use of imagery , slangs and many hidden ways to express themselves to avoid the hangman!
They brought Musa to guard the gate and now they fire him for seeing and saying too much…Musa biko please go before your head leaves your neck
Well till change comes let’s keep keeping it real and do what we know best…Kiss ass!Pretend! Be the cowards we are but with our necks still attached to our necks.
Un bon attendeur s’aligne!