Senegal Bars a Singer
December 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Senegal has barred the reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly from entering the country after he criticized President Abdoulaye Wade, Agence France-Presse reported. The singer, who is from the Ivory Coast, criticized Mr. Wade during a news conference and afterward at a concert on Wednesday, urging the president to leave office for the good of his country. Senegal’s interior ministry said Thursday evening that Mr. Fakoly was “persona non grata in Senegal” for his “insolent and discourteous” remarks and would be barred from entering the country. The singer had been in Senegal for the International Hip-Hop Awards in Dakar. The independent Senegalese newspaper Sud Quotidien said he was a “victim of state xenophobia.” Last month the Senegalese government faced protests that were seen as the country’s most violent since the late 1980s.
BRAZILIAN ECO-HIP HOP BAND ESQUECIMENTO TOTAL SPREAD THE 11TH HOUR MESSAGE
December 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The super conscious and hip Brazilian Eco-Hip Hop Band ESQUECIMENTO TOTAL are touring the countryside and enrolling other groups to see the 11th Hour and take action. Their music video combines potent rhythms with powerful messages about global warming and other critical environmental issues.
Senegal bans reggae star for criticising president
December 13, 2007 | Leave a Comment
recasts with Senegal declaring artist persona non grata)
By Daniel Flynn
DAKAR, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Senegal banned reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly from the West African country on Wednesday after he strongly criticised President Abdoulaye Wade at a concert in Dakar and called on him to "leave power".
Fakoly, one of Africa’s best-loved musicians and famed for his outspoken criticism of the continent’s corrupt leaders, added his voice to rights groups who have accused the octogenarian Wade of becoming increasingly authoritarian.
The president’s critics say Senegal’s once-bright democratic credentials have been tarnished by Wade’s political manoeuvres to position his son to succeed him, the detention without trial of critical journalists and the diminishing power of parliament.
"Mr president, if you love Senegal, leave power!" Fakoly said during the concert on Wednesday, to rapturous cheers and applause from hundreds of Senegalese, before launching into his anthem for corrupt politicians "Quitte le pouvoir" — "Leave Power".
Wade, a long-time opposition leader elected in 2000, easily won re-election in February but has since angered many ordinary Senegalese by focusing on preparations for an Islamic conference next year, while ignoring pressing social problems.
The worst riots in decades erupted in Dakar last month when Wade ordered the removal of thousands of street sellers from the downtown area to ease traffic congestion. He has sheltered his son Karim, who is managing the infrastructure projects for the Islamic conference, from testifying before parliament.
"If you don’t want your son to be questioned by parliamentarians, you should not have involved him in running the country," said Fakoly, a long-time campaigner for peace in his native Ivory Coast, dressed in a long white robe emblazoned with maps of Africa.
The government of the poor former French colony, which has in the past expelled senior diplomats for public criticism of its policy, responded swiftly.
"Following the discourteous statements by the artist Tiken Jah Fakoly regarding our government, the artist is declared persona non grata in Senegal," read an Interior Ministry ruling broadcast on state television.
Despite Senegal’s relatively small economy and population, Wade has tried to compete with South African President Thabo Mbeki for leadership on African issues.
Last month, Wade launched an impassioned defence of President Robert Mugabe during a trip to Harare aimed at defusing Western criticism of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. (Editing by Alistair Thomson and Sami Aboudi)
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved. |
