K’naan’s latest project is a mixtape series paying tribute to three iconic musicians and exemplary human rights activists: Fela Kuti, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. They were all true global citiizens; with the common thread between them being their use of music to highlight injustice and cultivate social consciousness (globally) through a message of equality between people. The fact that (regardless of their messages) each was a master of their distinct musical genres means that this tribute series also takes on the role of an enlightening cross-cultural excursion and socio-political education. On another level, the project also asks broader questions about the substance of musical content at large and whether it should be held to a higher (moral) standard or judged purely on entertainment value. These musicians’ stories are enthralling and too expansive to cover in this post or a tribute series but definitely worth researching and/or catching up on. The Messengers series is available for free download from here.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti – pioneer of Afrobeat music:

“Yes, if you are in England the music can be an instrument for enjoyment, so you can sing about love. You can sing about who you are going to bed with next. My society is underdeveloping because of an alien system on our people now so there is no music for enjoyment. There is nothing like love, there is something like a struggle for people’s existence. So, as an artist, politically, artistically the whole idea about your environment must be represented in the music, in the artist. So I think as far as Africa is concerned music cannot be for enjoyment. Music must be for revolution.” – Fela (Quoted from a skit on The Messengers: Episode 1)

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K’naan is serious. Make sure you check out his album Troubadour. The work he does as an ambassador for African culture and specifically a voice for Somalia in Hip Hop is unparalleled. We previously referenced his intellectualism in the form of his opinions in our piracy post but this shines more light on his depth as an artist. We know it’s cliche to say that you haven’t experienced a piece of music until you have seen it performed live, but it’s true in this case. See over the jump for footage and pictures  from his London show last week where ASPECKS was in attendance.

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Before we start let me say; Warriyaa to all my Somali friends who may come to read this. The recent highly publicised taking of the American ship Maersk Alabama by four Somali pirates has served to reignite the piracy debate once again. Particularly since the only surviving “pirate” is merely a highly remorseful eighteen-year-old boy and the others involved paid the highest price for their gamble. Let me add my voice to the deliberation by echoing the question; Are the Somali pirates swashbuckling Robin Hoods or simple commercial terrorists? In order to fully assess the situation one must pose the question of what drove former fishermen to take up arms in the first place. The documentary previewed below delves into the question. It gives a riveting first-person sympathetic story of fishermen driven to crime as a response to the depletion of their seas by foreign toxic waste dumping and fishing vessels.

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