the sound of the voiceless

Fela Kuti

It used to be that musicians were the social commentators, they were the ones that spoke for the masses. For the poor and neglected, for the victims of society. Now we find ourselves perhaps with such an abundance of 'issues' in the world. But the silence from our artists and musicians is defeaning...

Fela was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist and political maverick.

He once famously stated that when Nigeria gains independence (from corrupt leadership) the rest of the continent would follow suite. Well some of their northern neighbours maybe slightly ahead of them currently, however one cannot over stress the importance of the most populous African nation. Particularly should it begin to show any signs of positive leadership.

Where are the Felas of today? Why the silence? Why is everybody so afraid of speaking out of line with the norm? Afraid of questioning our leaders, our governments.

"In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it..."

- Ernst Fischer