Popular Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo has shared her opinion on musicians using their music to praise or promote politicians and political parties.
The Grammy-winning music icon explained that she doesn’t make music for politicians because political powers are ephemeral, emphasising that an artist who makes music for politicians might lose relevance after a regime change.
Speaking in a recent episode of the Female Poets Society podcast, Kidjo urged her colleagues to be voices of the people and not voices of power.
“My father always used to say to us, especially to me as a singer, do not write music for any political party because they come and they go, and once they’re gone, you go with it.
“Write your music with your opinions, be free in writing your music. Don’t be sold to somebody because, therefore, you don’t become the voice of the people anymore, you become the voice of the power. And when that power shifted, you’re off the window,” she recalled.