Artistes Groomed to Promote Accountability, Participation in Governance Via Socially Conscious Music

In a competition organized to birth the next Nigerian music stars with the aim of achieving positive social change, several artistes have been groomed to advocate support for greater representation, participation and accountability across Nigeria by developing socially conscious music.

The competition tagged “Voice2Rep campaign” produced top 10 music finalists to be housed, trained and exposed to the music industry stakeholders in Lagos.

As contained in a press document recently issued by Prince Chimaroke Chukwuka, the Communication Officer, Accountability Lab Nigeria, task at hand for the artistes is to produce a song each on issues around women’s rights, which happens to be the theme of the second edition of the Voice2Rep campaign.

The campaign which is supported by the Netherlands embassy, Luminate, Chocolate City and Don’t Drop the Mic, had announced the top 10 finalists on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on its website: Voice2Rep.

The top ten finalists announced on the social media platforms who have been slated to go on to the next phase of the Voice2Rep Competition are Faden, Elijah – “Ejay”, Olatide, Wright – “Tide”, Oparemi, Favour- “Millar”.

Others are Ajanlekoko, Emmanuel-David – “JustED” Boniface, Jeremiah – “Jezzay”, Pepple, Fidelia – “Delia”, Sarumi, Keizy – “KEIZY SUGARH”, Ijeh, Jessica – “Nanya Ijeh”, Beddie-Memberr, Boma – “Shona” and Abah, Hope – “Giovanni”.

The statement informed that, “Upon arrival some of the top 10 finalists, ‘Giovanni, Keizy Sugarh and Just Ed’ were invited to the International Women’s Day celebration hosted by the Netherlands embassy alongside a host of women’s rights activists such as Soroptimist International, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, and others.”

In the month of March, the top 10 were received by Jan Van Weijen, the Consulate-General in the Embassy of the Netherlands, Lagos, where he listened to the finalists talk about their music and went on to share with them the “limitations of rights and freedoms in respect to diverse cultures and religions.”

Speaking further, the consulate general explained that rights and freedoms are never totally exclusive and absolute because of the collision and interplay of diverse cultures, religions and other factors.

He also encouraged the top 10 artists to create music with a clear message and attempt to deliver it beautifully, especially in an art form.

It is noteworthy to mention that voice2Rep campaign is also supported by Constitution Lab and Map reporters.