Members
of the ‘Artwatch Africa Ambassadors for Creative Expressions’ have condemned
the attack on Studio Abazon of Burkinabe top rapper and revolutionary artiste,
Serges Martin Bambara aka Smokey. The attack occurred in the morning hours of
Thursday, September 17, 2015 in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
This was revealed in a statement made available to
Newswatch Times by the Chair,
CORA-Arterial Network, Nigeria, Jahman Anikulapo. The attack, according to the
statement, was reportedly carried out by members of the RSP, otherwise known as
the ‘Presidential Guard,’ led by General Gilbert Diendere, the leader of the
military junta that seized power in the country recently.
Newswatch
Times learnt that Smokey is the leader of a popular socio-political movement
called “BALAI CITOYEN” (The Citizens’ Broom), which led the revolt against the
dictatorial actions of former President Blaise Compraore. The popular revolt
forced Compraore to resign and flee the country on October 31, 2014. General
Diendere was number two man to Compraore, and his leadership of the RSP had
targeted Smokey and members of ‘The Citizens’ Broom,” whom they perceived as
enemies of the ousted Compraore.
“Studio
Abazon, according to rights activists in Ouga, was rocket-bombed by members of
the RSP. According to report, the well-equipped studio, which is the hub of
young and aspiring musicians in Ouga, was damaged beyond repair, which confirm
the suspicion that it was an orchestrated attack on the artiste, who in recent
years has become the rallying voice for the politically decimated angry and
idealistic young Burkinabe,” it explained
Earlier
in March, Smokey had played host to eleven other top musicians from eight
African countries, who are known as the Ambassadors for Creative Expressions
under Artwatch Africa, a project
promoted by the pan-African body of artistes and culture workers, Arterial
Network. The eleven musicians had recorded a single track in the studio titled
RIGHT TO LIFE, which incidentally was campaigning for the freedom of artistic
expressions.
Two of
the ambassadors, Nigeria’s Ade Bantu and Senegalese Didier Awadi, who spoke
against the bombing of Studio Abazon, said the bombing reaffirm the fact that
artistes’ life is not secured in many parts of the continent, and that African
leaders.
They
urged the Economic Community of West Africa, the African Union and the United
Nations to make necessary intervention to ensure that the attackers of Smokey’s
Abazon studio are brought to justice.
Also a statement from the Project Manager of Artwatch
Africa, Diana Ramarohetra, who coordinated the ‘Ambassadors’ workshop and
recording in Ouga in March, stated in part: “The artists are in
danger in Ouagadougou. The Artist is not terrorist… the artist has the right
to defend what he thinks is right. Of course, his voice can be stronger, his
words more minced, more aggressive. But as it is often said only the truth
hurts… The Artist has a responsibility to the public, towards his convictions.
The Artist is there to denounce where the social contract has been broken.
These artists, despite their commitment to organizations in the civil society,
and despite the challenges that confront their legitimacy, are non-political.
They aspire to one thing: That Africa puts an end to these political unrests
that continue to hurt our image and our future”.
Meanwhile, RIGHT TO LFE, the
musical video that was audio-recorded in the bombed studio and
mastered by Smokey, will be formally presented in Nigeria today, Friday,
September 18, 2015 during the monthly AFROPOLITAN VIBES concert of Ade Bantu.
The Senegalese, Didier Awadi, who also has a bit of his family from Nigeria,
will also be featuring in the concert as well as presenting the video clip.
Time is 7pm in the Food Court of the Freedom Park, 1 Hospital Road, by Broad
Street, Lagos.
Statement
on the launch of RIGHT TO LIFE in Lagos
The eleven leading artistes that featured in the audio
and video recordings of RIGHT TO LIFE under the collective name of Artwatch
Africa Ambassadors for Creative Expressions are: Didier Awadi ( Sénégal),
Soum Bill (Côte d'Ivoire), Josey (Côte d'Ivoire), Zeynab (Bénin), Master Soumy
(Mali), Monza (Mauritanie), Smokey (Burkina Faso), Alif Naaba (Burkina Faso)
Awa
Sissao (Burkina Faso), Pheno Bi (Niger) and Ade Bantu (Nigeria).
According to the Chair,
CORA-Arterial Network, Nigeria, Jahman Anikulapo, “Earlier
this year, Artwatch Africa, an arm of the pan-continental body, Arterial
Network, had launched the Ambassadors for Creative Expressions
project, which has the sole aim of canvassing for freedom of artistic rights
and creative expression. The launch was
held through a two-day workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in the course of
the 24th Pan-African Cinema and Television, FESPACO 2015.
“In the two-day workshop, held March 4 to 5, the
artistes were taken through a workshop on various issues involved in freedom of
creative expression. Many of them meeting for the first time at the workshop,
the artistes collaborated to forge common aims and strategies that could be
adopted in championing freedom of artistic and creative expression on the
continent. With guidance from officials of the Artwatch Africa (of Arterial
Network), the artistes set up a focus group and tried to identify challenges to
be overcome so that artists would be accorded their due respect in all the
countries of the continent.
“The aim of the meeting, stressed Artwatch Africa
officials, is to reinforce presence and involvement in the struggle for freedom
of creative and artistic expression on the continent and to also provide them
(artistes) with tools that will assist in the defence of freedom of expression
such as interviews, concerts, their grassroots presence and field action.
The two-day session was concluded with a concert by
the Burkinabe top rapper, Smokey as he launched his latest album, leading his
fellow hip-hoppers, members of the "Balai Citoyen" (The Citizen
Broom) collective, on March 5 in the ruins of the old National Assembly of
Ouagadougou.
“The highlight of the workshop was the recording of
joint single titled: RIGHT TO LIFE, which was initiated by the Senegalese
rapper and revolutionary singer, Didier Awadi. The song, according to him is an
opportunity by the artistes from across the continent to unite their voices and
record song on freedom of expression.”
Arterial Network is a
dynamic, pan-African civil society network comprising artists, activists,
organisations and institutions engaged in the African creative sector. The
Network is incubated in Nigeria by the leading culture advocacy group, the
Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, and it is
known as CORA-Arterial Network with headquarters in Surulere, Lagos.
Profile
of Ambassadors
Ade Bantu
Ade Bantu is a Nigerian-German musician, music and film
producer. He is the front man of the 13-piece band, Bantu and the founder of
the Afro-German music collective and NGO, Brothers Keepers. Adebantu and Bantu
are known for their eclectic fusion of the rich cultural heritage of the
Yoruba’s and the hybrid sounds of the African diaspora. The award-winning group
has partaken in concerts and workshops programs in Germany, Sweden, Holland,
Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Nigeria. The Bantu collective
currently host a monthly concert series in Lagos called “Afropolitan Vibes”- A
platform they created for musicians, singer/ songwriters to perform mostly
original material. Asides from music, Adebantu has developed and
executed numerous performing arts and cross-cultural projects like
Framewalk and BornTroWay. He has also produced short films and
documentaries. He is currently working with Bantu on their 5th studio album. www.adebantu,com
Alif Naaba (Burkina Faso): Singer and
guitarist Alif Naaba has opted for a style of folk music influenced by Mossé
culture. Nicknamed the Barefoot Prince, he was brought up by a cabaret-singing
mother whose sweet vocals inspired him as a little boy. His music is full of
subtle orchestrations that induce introspection and meditation; it is a fusion
of African tones and jazz sounds. In 2003 his first album introduced him to
listeners in Burkina Faso and he quickly became one of the most bankable
figures in African folk. The OIF supported his appearances at the 2010 globalFEST in New York
and at the 2011 Cervantino International Festival, which suggested a promising
future career for this talented newcomer. Alif Naaba was awarded a creative
grant by the Institut Français in 2012. www.alifnaaba.net
Didier Awadi (Senegal): Awadi is unquestionably the most visible rapper of Francophone
Africa. Winner of RFI Afrique 2003, a leading artist and visionary singer, he
also devotes his energy to film and artistic production. With his revolutionary
outlook, Didier explores critical topics for the continent, such as heritage,
illegal immigration, political conflict and insecurity. He is also
participating in their structuring of Senegalese music sector through his
label, his recording studio and its space repetition, Studio Sankara. After the
success of his documentary "The Lion view" (Cannes, 2011), Awadi is
preparing another film project.
Josey Priscille (Ivory Coast): Josey is in the register of
references in Ivory Coast in share her singing voice status and is often sought
for services during the dinners organized on the occasion of visits by heads of
states in the country. Revealed by the competition Castel live Opera, Priscilla
Josey is fast becoming the rising star of the Ivorian music. Live singer Josey
dream, to 24, a career International. In 2014, she released a single titled
"On nothing with that, "a musical success that enchants waves
regional radio stations.
Master Soumy (Mali): The music making this artists
mark is single since 2006: a mix of rap tempo, traditional instruments and
acoustic guitar. Master Soumy won in record time as one of the must-leaders of
hip-hop Mali. The originality of his texts, commitment for the cause of the
poor, are assets that it gives rapper status simplest and most available for
his fans. Today, after several national, African tours, European and USA, Soumy
is dedicating himself to his fourth album.
Phéno Bi (Niger): The Kaidan Gaskia group saw the light
of day with Phéno Bi and Suprem Peto. The group’s philosophy and approach
enabled them to gain prominence and to project a positive image of Niger
artists vis-à-vis the youth. With a total of seven albums under its belt, the
Kaidan Gaskia group was able to stand out as a model for Niger’s enlightened
youths to emulate and they spared no effort in mounting the rostrum to defend
the cause of the youths and children. Kaidan Gaskia was equally able to impose
its style by making economic and political issues, freedom of expression,
difficulties faced by street children and the status of women in the society
the main subject matter in its songs.
Smokey (Burkina Faso): Smockey Bambara is a hip hop artist, from Ouagadougou. In 1999 he signed
a contract with EMI and launched a first single, featuring the singer Lââm.
He won the "Best Artist of the Year" category of
Kundé, a national Burkinabé music award, in 2006. In 2010 he won the Kora Awards, in the category
"Best Hip-Hop Artist.
In 2013 he co-founded Le Balai
Citoyen ("The
Citizen's Broom"), a grassroots political movement, together with the reggae
musician Sams’K Le Jah. With his friend Didier Awadi, they went on tour all over Africa
to share their message : more democracy and justice.
Soum Bill (Ivory Coast): Soum Bill began his
artistic career in 1989 through
various musical groups. He had his first success with "The
Bastards" a quartet that was the heyday of the Ivorian music between 1995
and 2000. After this extraordinary career, he devoted the last fifteen years to
a solo career. This allowed him to realize more musical works and performances
on various national and international scenes. Urban music has rocked his
childhood and represents for him a second means of control in addition to the
Zouglou music remains one of his pillars.
Zeynab Habib (Benin): Born in Cote d'Ivoire where she lived for 16 years, Zeynab was
nurtured by music and remains a multi-faceted artist. Her musical premier
titled “Intori” saw the light of day in 2002. Zeynab won several distinctions
among which are the “2002 Excellence Prize” for Women in plural, the Most
Inspirational African Female during the 2004 Black Music Awards, the Prize for
the Best Love Song of the Cupidon Show in Cotonou, the Benin Oscars (Best
Female Artist for 2011). She is also winner of the highly coveted KORA AWARD
trophy in the Best African Female Artist category for 2005. This extremely
generous woman, has taken up the cause of children and women through her music.
Since September 2007, she is UNICEF Ambassador for Benin.
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