Global Metal Apocalypse
Connect With Us
  • Home
  • News
    • Alternative Music News
    • Metal News
    • Live News & Reviews
    • Other Music News
  • Reviews
    • Alternative Music
    • Film Reviews
    • Metal >
      • Metal II
      • Metal III
  • Interviews
    • Alternative Music Interviews
    • Metal Interviews
    • Music Related Interviews
  • Metal Scenes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North & Central America
    • Oceania
    • South America
  • Blogging
  • Extras
    • GMA Awards
    • GMA In The Press
    • Projects
    • Testimonials
  • Contact

Burkina Faso’s Smockey becomes the first Music in Exile fellow with performance

14/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

“Not everyone is lucky enough to have a microphone in front of them, so if you have the chance to talk, you have to say something important”


Music and activism have strong connections and Serge Martin Bambara — aka "Smockey", meaning “se moquer”, or “to mock” – is the one of the most exciting performers merging the two today.


13th April marked the day Smockey became the inaugural Music in Exile fellow at the annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards at the Unicorn Theatre in London, with a live performance of his popular tracks. The award was presented by Martyn Ware, founder member of the Human League and Heaven 17.


The hip-hop artist may be little known outside his home country, but he has had an impressive impact on political and social development in Burkina Faso, both through his music and campaigning. He has also suffered the destruction of his recording studio, the acclaimed Studio Abazon, which was firebombed during the attempted coup in September 2015. Soldiers fired two anti-tank rockets into the building, according to reports.


Smockey combines rap with traditional Burkinabé music and humour to “spread truth”. “Knowledge is important, and I write as a way of presenting it to the people,” he told Index on Censorship.


“Musicians often put their heads above the parapet to speak about issues that governments would rather ignore,” said Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship. “Smockey has used his music to expose endemic corruption and fight for democracy. We are delighted to have him as the inaugural Music in Exile fellow.”


The crowd-funded Music in Exile fellowship was launched in partnership with the team behind the new award-winning documentary covering threats to music in Mali, They Will Have To Kill Us First. The fellowship recognises musicians who perform despite enormous threats to their freedom.


"We are so proud that Smockey has been announced as the first winner of the Music in Exile Fellowship. We started the Music in Exile Fund with Index on Censorship in order to empower other musicians who wanted their voices heard against oppression. The fund was possible due to the support of the audiences internationally who have donated generously after watching They Will Have To Kill Us First. We look forward to seeing Smockey grow further as an artist thanks to the support and guidance of the fellowship," said Sarah Mosses, producer of the film.


Smockey first became interested in hip-hop music after listening to American artists like Public Enemy, Afrika Bambaataa and LL Cool J. He began rapping in Burkina Faso in 1988, before moving to France in 1991 to study. While there, he signed to the record label EMI, but it wasn’t until he returned to his country of birth on a holiday in 1999 that his music took on the political dimension it is famed for today.


“It was around the time of the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, who was assassinated following investigations into the activist by president Blaise Compaoré,” he said. “Student demonstrators were being beaten by police. It was very disturbing to me.”


Smockey soon packed up his computer and keyboard in France and moved back home to Burkina Faso in 2001. “Seeing the things going on in my country, I had to do something,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t know exactly what, but I knew it would involve music.”


“Not everyone is lucky enough to have a microphone in front of them, so if you have the chance to talk, you have to say something important,” Smockey said. This is the thinking behind subversive songs like Votez Pour Moi (about democracy), Tomber la Lame (FGM) and A Qui Profite le Crime (government corruption).


In the summer of 2013, Smockey co-founded Le Balai Citoyen (The Citizen Broom) with reggae artist Sams’K Le Jah. The grass-roots movement was set up in opposition to then president Blaise Compaoré. Le Balai Citoyen played a big part in the ousting of Compaoré. It urged the people of Burkina Faso to organise and take to the streets. Following mass demonstrations in late 2014, Compaoré resigned on 31 October after 27 years in power. A transition government, led by the military, was established. However, a military coup saw General Gilbert Diendéré — leader of the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP), Compaoré’s former secret service — seized power in September 2015.


The Music in Exile Fund is a joint project launched by Index on Censorship and the producers of the award-winning They Will Have To Kill Us First, a documentary about musicians in Mali where music was banned.


The Music in Exile Fund will contribute towards Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship, which is a year-long structured assistance programme to support those facing censorship. The money raised will be used to support at least one musician or group per year, beginning with Smockey.


As the Music in Exile fellow, Smockey will receive training and opportunities to connect with other free speech heroes around the world. Index supports these activists with training on digital activism and other tools to stand up to the pressure of censorship and continue their battle for free expression around the world.


The Index Freedom of Expression Awards recognise those individuals and groups making the greatest impact in tackling censorship worldwide. Established 16 years ago, the awards shine a light on work being undertaken in defence of free expression globally. All too often these stories go unnoticed or are ignored by the mainstream press.

0 Comments

    If you enjoy reading this content, please consider a donation

    Donate


    © 2011-2022 Global Metal Apocalypse

    Archives

    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All
    A Cappella
    Actor
    Afghanistan
    Album Release
    Album Stream
    All Female
    All-female
    Alternative
    Alternative Rock
    Ambient
    Anniversary Tour
    Art Pop
    Australia
    Austria
    Barbados
    BBC
    Belarus
    Belgium
    Betting
    Bluegrass
    Blues
    Blues Rock
    Blues Rock
    BluRay
    Book
    Britpop
    Burkina Faso
    Canada
    Celtic
    Chile
    China
    Choral
    Christmas
    Classical
    Colombia
    Comics
    Competition
    Compilation
    Country
    Cover
    Czech Republic
    Dance
    Darkwave
    Deluxe Edition
    Denmark
    Digital Hardcore
    Disco
    DJ
    Double A Side
    Dream Pop
    DVD
    EBM
    EDM
    Egypt
    Electronic
    Electronica
    Electropop
    Electropunk
    Emo
    England
    Ep Release
    EP Stream
    Estonia
    Europe
    Eurovision
    Experimental
    Farewell Tour
    Fashion
    Festival
    Film
    Finland
    Folk-rock
    France
    Funk
    Funk-rock
    Garage
    Garage Rock
    Germany
    Ghana
    Gibraltar
    Gig
    Gig Report
    Glam Rock
    Gothic Metal
    Gothic Rock
    Gothic Rock
    Greece
    Grunge
    Halloween
    Hardcore
    Hardcore Punk
    Hard Rock
    Hard Rock
    Heavy Metal
    Hip Hop
    Hip-hop
    Hip-Hop
    Hong Kong
    House
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Indie Pop
    Indie Rock
    Industrial
    In Memory
    Instrumental
    International
    Isle Of Man
    Italy
    ITunes
    Japan
    Jazz
    Kazakhstan
    Label Signing
    Latvia
    Lithuania
    Live Recording
    Live Stream
    Live Video
    Luxembourg
    Lyric Video
    Math Rock
    Melodic Hardcore
    Metal
    Modelling
    Motorbikes
    Music Awards
    Music Video
    Neofolk
    Neo-Psychedelia
    Nepal
    Netherlands
    New Wave
    New Zealand
    Noise
    Norway
    Original Soundtrack
    Panama
    Poland
    Pop
    Pop Group
    Pop Punk
    Pop Rock
    Pop Rock
    Portugal
    Post Hardcore
    Post Punk
    Post Rock
    Power Pop
    Progressive Rock
    Psychedelic
    Psy-trance
    Punk Rock
    Radio
    Ragga Metal
    Rap
    Rap Metal
    R&B
    Release
    Remix
    Rock
    Rock 'N' Roll
    Romania
    Russia
    Scotland
    Screamo
    Shock Rock
    Shoegazing
    Signing Sessions
    Singer Songwriter
    Singer-Songwriter
    Single Release
    Ska
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Sludge Metal
    Solo
    Soul
    Soundtrack
    Southern Rock
    Spain
    Sports
    Spotify
    Sri Lanka
    Steampunk
    Stoner Rock
    Studio
    Supergroup
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Symphonic
    Synthpop
    Talent Show
    Theatre
    Tour
    Travel
    TV Show
    UK
    Ukraine
    USA
    Vinyl
    Visual Kei
    Wales
    X Factor

    RSS Feed