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Music as a Catalyst – Amplifying Underrepresented Voices

By Kibo Ngowi Art is a powerful tool for connecting people and shining a light on important social issues, and promoting equity and representation. This is an idea that runs right through the Lab’s Arts for Change programming. With music in particular, the Lab has created a network of musicians making socially conscious music across the African continent, creating sustainable models for change that integrate values and impact into the fabric of their work.  Two people who played an instrumental role in this process are the musician MI Abaga and the activist Nora Rahimian. These two talented changemakers have recognized [...]

2023-06-27T09:38:29+00:0027th June 2023|

Rhythmic Advocacy: Inside V2R Nigeria’s Songwriting Bootcamp

By Murkthar Suleiman & Sharon Patrick-Udoh In the words of Fela Anikulapo Kuti: "Music is the weapon. Music is the weapon of the future." We've just completed an exciting initiative at the Lab, and it was a whirlwind of rhythm and creativity! Our Voice2Rep program is designed for undiscovered music artists who advocate for greater representation, participation, and accountability. Its aim is to make their voices heard, connect with socially-conscious leaders in the music industry, and build the skills they need to help shape Nigeria's future through the power of music. This program took center stage during our recent Songwriting [...]

2023-05-31T08:03:20+00:0030th May 2023|

Accountability Music Awards opens nominations for 2021

Nominations have officially opened for the 2021 Accountability Music Awards (AMAs). The 2021 AMAs are a collaboration between Accountability Lab, the ONE Campaign and the African Union to honour African musicians whose music calls out the vice of corruption or advocates for good governance through the fight against corruption. By providing a platform for conscious musicians, the AMAs aim to galvanise citizens in demanding greater transparency and accountability from institutions, corporations and the African citizenry. The campaign also recognises the critical role that music can play in getting citizens involved in anti-corruption reform by shifting norms and behaviours. Nominations can be submitted [...]

2021-10-11T10:50:15+00:007th October 2021|

ONE-Accountability Lab Partner with Trace Africa to Launch 2019 Accountability Music Awards

As the world commemorates International Anti-Corruption Day, ONE and Accountability Lab have partnered with continental Pop giants, Trace Africa, to launch the 2019 Accountability Music Awards. The awards celebrate the African musicians who use their voice to call for more transparency and accountability in Africa. Viewers on Trace Naija, Trace Urban and Trace Afrique, will be able to vote for their favourite song focused on the fight against corruption in our communities. African citizens consistently place corruption amongst their top concerns, and report having lost faith in many key institutions, including legislatures, police, courts, and national electoral commissions. According to [...]

2019-12-09T00:00:00+00:009th December 2019|

Rapping to Be Repped in Liberia

 By: Anne Sophie Ranjbar, Associate Director and Maima Caranda, Volunteer As you walk through Monrovia, you can’t miss the catchy West African beats that play on every street. While Nigeria has traditionally been the hub for music in the region, Liberia’s young “Hip Co” artists are rapidly building a following in the region and beyond. Music has the power to inspire and inform people—acting as a medium through which to channel popular sentiment and shape collective dreams. As Liberia faces its next presidential election—a critical opportunity to consolidate democracy and peace after a troubled past—music can also serve as a [...]

2017-05-06T00:00:00+00:006th May 2017|

Music Post-Ebola: Artist Amaze says Hipco Songs Made Tremendous Impact

By: Heather Maxwell. This blog was originally published by Voice of America.   Music had a big role to play both during and in the aftermath of the West Africa Ebola epidemic. I found that out when I visited Monrovia in August. A lot of artists wrote songs about the personal experiences people had facing the disease. Henry Amazin’ Toe, a.k.a Amaze, is a well-established hipco artist who composed and recorded such songs.I met Amaze several times during my stay in the Liberian capital. The first time was during a group interview I held in Mamba Point with other artists (Teddy Ride and Margaret [...]

2016-09-21T00:00:00+00:0021st September 2016|

They came for the music and left with the message

By: Heather Gilberds On Saturday, September 10th, Accountability Lab Liberia’s work attracted hundreds of young people to a town hall in Kakata, the capital city of Margibi county, where they gathered to listen to the latest songs from their favorite Hip Co artists. Hip Co music is uniquely Liberian—a form of hip hop that emerged in the 1980's but gained popularity among youth in post-war Liberia. Hip Co artists rap in “Colloqua”, the colloquial form of Liberian English, and the songs have a political bent, describing social ills, lamenting the causes of poverty, or calling out corrupt politicians and public [...]

2016-09-19T00:00:00+00:0019th September 2016|

Liberia: Using Music to Enlighten the Youth On Why It Is Important to Vote

By: Claudia Smith. This article was originally published by the Daily Observer. "I believe we are to know who to vote for in other for us to have a better nation or society, despite the poverty and hardship we are faced with. We shouldn't be carried away by politicians with mere talks to gain their selfish desires" Once again, voting time is near. Sadly, many don't know why they or should cast their vote; they vote because of the benefits and money that they feel belong to voting. Trying to change these perspectives, two talented artists, who have been working [...]

2016-05-19T00:00:00+00:0019th May 2016|

#CorruptionMustGo: Musicians Mobilize to Minimize Corruption in Liberia

By: Brooks Marmon, Accountability Lab Program Officer. This blog post was originally published by OSIWA. As Liberia enters its second decade of peace, its music industry continues to gain popularity. Artists like Takun J have a national following and have leveraged this platform to speak out against injustices at all levels of society. The Accountability Lab, an OSIWA partner, has been working with hip co (the genre of Liberian urban music) musicians in Liberia to promote integrity and combat corruption. With an overwhelmingly young population, almost half of Liberians are under the age of 18, Liberia’s hip co-stars are uniquely positioned [...]

2020-03-03T16:03:52+00:009th December 2015|

Forging New Ground – Jim Tuttle – First Accountability Lab/Newhouse Visual Storytelling Fellow

By: Jim Tuttle, Accountability Lab Visual Storytelling Fellow. This blog post was originally published by the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement. Earlier this summer I lived in Liberia for about 10 weeks, working as the multimedia resident for a NGO called The Accountability Lab. I’d like to thank AL and the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement at Syracuse University for making this wonderful opportunity available.  It was an excellent learning experience, and a great chance to push my visual skills and portfolio forward. My projects there included filming a music video in an abandoned Monrovia hotel for a Liberian musician named [...]

2020-03-03T16:02:53+00:0016th November 2015|
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