As part of a project connecting to Professor of Political Science Emily Paddon-Rhoads’ class on the Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa, several Swatties examine the role of music in Ugandan politics. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been in power for three decades and has pushed the presidential age limit. In this troubling context, musicians take varying degrees of political engagement but are all restricted in their methods of expression by the government. How have artists responded? Some completely avoid politics; some see artistic expression as a mode of social activism. A number of musicians sang for Museveni’s campaign. Others ran for office to create change from within the system. Ugandan pop music reflects the disturbing trends of Ugandan politics. This week on War News Radio, our reporters Ozsu Risvanoglu, Lea Slaugh, and Sally Wang, with the help of Lisa Kato and Seimi Park, will take you on a journey with the music of parliamentary musician Bobi Wine (also known as “The King of Ghetto”), top musician Eddy Kenzo, and human rights activist/musician Bana Mutibwa.
Best of Fall 2011
Stop and Go
Nuclear Ambitions
Insider Perspectives
Without Shelter
Standing Together
Unlikely Connections
Precious Metals
Under Cover
Supply and Demand
Unintended Consequences
Remembering 9/11
Learning Experience
Disrupting Conventions
The Homefront
Recovering From War
Voices of Change
Seeking Refuge
The Drone Debate
Unmanned War
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