Hand in Hand, As One People, Say No to Corruption

[Joseph Mansilla]

(Written for the pilot GYAC newsletter)

I was once asked, "corruption is such a grown-up concern, how do you young people go about fighting it?" One of the answers is music. With the help of Brussels-based Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI), GYAC is able to invite musicians from the world over to join the fight against corruption through the Fair Play Anti-Corruption Music Competition. Last year, the 1st ever GYAC Forum in Brussels was spiced up by  "artivists" from Malawi, DRC, Kenya, and Lebanon, who called on everyone to play it fair and to gather for a collective action against corruption with their collaborative song, Together Against Corruption.

This year, after receiving 113 entries from over 30 countries throughout the 3 months that the Fair Play website went live, we are joined at the 2nd GYAC Forum in Nairobi by musicians from Uganda (Kafulu Xenson), Vanuatu (Young Life), Colombia (De Bruces A Mí), and Bulgaria (Teddy & Tenny). Coming from the tremendous success of last year's musicians, I was definitely looking forward to Together Against Corruption v2.0. However, in response to the growth of the network and the anti-corruption movement we hope to build, this year's musicians composed and recorded not just one, but three collaborative songs.  Check them out:

In Hand In Hand, our musicians point out that the fight against corruption is black and white, yes or no, "there's no middle ground;" you either stand for honesty and integrity or you don't. They also remind us that the fight is best done with a group because truly, "together we stand; divided we fall." Indeed, indeed. More than a reminder, this is a celebratory song that's best enjoyed with friends and fellow anti-corruption advocates.

Vocals: Taiwo Matthew Omede (Nigeria/Bulgaria), Andre Arno (Vanuatu), Rexson Josiah (Vanuatu)
Guitars: Nelly Charley (Vanuatu), Mike Hogan (New Zealand/Vanuatu)
Bass: Andre Arno (Vanuatu)
Keys: Rexson Josiah (Vanuatu)
Drums: Camilo Mazo (Colombia)

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We Are One People is a really refreshing track, thanks to the vocals of the only lady in the pack, Teddy of Teddy & Tenny, whom you will also hear sing in her native Bulgarian. Watch out for the words: "there'll be no fear, no pain, if we just all walk the way of truth ... we will take this cause til hopes and dreams will come to life again." Really beautiful, powerful song; GYAC members should all someday sing this in a chorus.

Vocals: Teddy Slavcheva (Bulgaria), Emmanuel Nsubuga (Uganda), David Middleton Sabo (Uganda)
Guitars: Mike Hogan (New Zealand/Vanuatu), David Middleton Sabo (Uganda)
Keys: Emmanuel Nsubuga (Uganda)
Bass: Steve Bwire (Uganda)
Drums: Mathias Boe (Vanuatu)

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This song is simply quite straightforward: Say No To Corruption, dammit. Make no mistake, though: it's far from the angry, hardcore, rah-rah kind of advocacy song; the chorus is genuinely uplifting: "Arise, say no, let's fight corruption. One mind one heart, let's fight corruption." You can also hear the Colombian boys rock it in Spanish here. I think we can all agree how musical the language can be.

Vocals: Mauricio Osorio (Colombia), Samson Ssenkaaba (Uganda), Robert Arno (Vanuatu), Rexly Josiah (Vanuatu)
Guitar: Oscar Franco (Colombia)
Bass: Cesar Valencia (Colombia)
Melodica: Julio Angel (Colombia)
Keys: Faber Agudelo (Colombia)
Drums: Simon Peter Kafeero Tamale (Uganda)

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All of the songs were produced by Jesse Bukindu and recorded, mixed, and mastered at Ketebul Music, Nairobi, Kenya.

Extremely talented musicians + anti-corruption advocacy + GYAC members together in one Forum = really potent cocktail, if you ask me. Watch them in this video as they rocked their winning songs and "Hand In Hand":

Advocacy work is tedious and challenging; one even went so far as to say that anything worth fighting for will not happen in our lifetime. I partly agree. But it need not always be so. As I've said before, anti-corruption advocacy is as urgent as it is hip. Or the other way around. Music can bring home to people -- from far and wide -- the message of transparency and accountability and a better future. And really, I don't think I need to explain the impact of music in our lives.