Significance of Anti-Corruption Music Album as ‘Kathga Khailyau Re’

Bhishma Kukreti

(Abstract: Music plays a great role in mobilizing the people for a cause. In this write up, the author briefs about three important aspects of curbing corruption and briefs about the significance of music albums in creating anti-corruption public awareness. In second part of write up, the author briefs about popular singers and music albums regarding anti corruption subject in American countries, African, Asian Countries, European countries and countries of pacific regions. )

(The write up is 14 th part of series " Kathga Khailya Re : A Garhwali Poem by Narendra Singh Negi Against Corruption and Poems against Corruption from 150 countries )

One the Famous Indian singers Narendra Singh Negi recently released a Garhwali language anti-corruption music album ‘Kathga Khailya Re (Enough is Enough! Stop Corruption!)’. When the whole humanity is facing a daunting or never ending proble of corruption, the release of an anti corruption music album by the singer of Negi’s status is very reliving factors for common men. The music album about anti corruption subject is significant medium for public awareness.

In any anti corruption campaign, the following aspects are necessary

1- Legal issues or legislative actions as anti-corruption weapon

2-Institutional actions related to quick results from legislation or fast execution methods as anti-corruption weapon

3- Public awareness for anti-corruption

There are following major activities for public awareness for anti-corruption campaign

1- Debates and seminars for anti-corruption at various levels and in various media

2- Competition among various age groups for making art, paintings, cartoons, etc on anti-corruption subject

3- Competition of essay writing or speeches on anti-corruption at various levels and medium

4- Exhibition of various medium for anti-corruption as cartoons, art, paintings, music albums CDs, DVDs , films, essays etc

5- Making feature or documentary films on ant-corruption subject

6- Public gathering, long march, candle lighting by public at one place, Satygrah, non-cooperative movement against corruption as Gandhi ji did for freedom movement etc

7- Messages through various small and big medium

8- Organizing stage plays, street plays, concerts, cultural programs, with the subjects of anti-corruption

9- Release and distribution of national, regional and local languages music albums about anti-corruption

Popular Anti- Corruption Music Albums of Various Countries

Narendra Singh Negi had been incorporating his anti-corruption songs in his various Garhwali language music albums/CD/DVD/Audio Cassettes for long time. His Garhwali music album- ‘Nauchhami Narayan’ was also anti-corruption music album. The popularities of his two Garhwali music albums against corruption in Uttarakhand and among Uttarakhandis all over world proved that music albums on anti-corruption subject play great role in making public awareness against corruption. There is no doubt that the Garhwali music album ‘Nauchhami Narayan’ of Narendra Singh Negi had been one factors to make awareness among people against past Uttarakhand chief minister Narayan Datt Tiwari and congress had to lose last general election in the province.

Daddy Saj )1978-): Daddy Saj ( Joseph Gerald Adolphus Cole ) of Freetown, Sierra Leone has many similarities with great Indian singer Narendra Singh Negi. Negi and Daddy Saj are famous in stage concerts and Daddy Saj and Narendra Negi have been serving the society by providing songs of social causes in their respective regions. Daddy Saj released the following albums related to anti corruption

Corruption (Corruption E Do So = Corruption Enough is Enough)

Densay Densay = Rumours Rumours is against social evils

Faya 4 Faya is again the music album taking social issue

Anti Corruption Song Competition in Namibia

There was anti corruption song competition in Namibia in 2006-2007 wherein may anti music albums were submitted

A web site musek.com provide data of music albums against corruption as

‘ Voice of God ‘ music album against corruption

2-Corruption song by Aria (Africa)

3-I love Namibia album by Umberto

4- Community Work a music album by Billy

5-Corruption by Aaron

6-It is Everywhere submitted by Nick

7- Thank you submitted by George

8- Namibian Musicians submitted by Chile

9- Anti corruption music albums in Kenya : There are anti corruption songs in nine languages and sung by nine famous singers of respective singer

Anti Corruption Youth Voice Music Contest 2011

113 artists from 33 countries submitted anti corruption music albums and following were winners

A- Kafulu Xenson (Uganda)

B- Young Life (Vanuatu)

C-De Bruces A Mi (Colombia)

D- Teddy and Tenny (Bulgaria)

Suzana Oweyo a famous singer of Nairobi worked with famous Kenya musician Tedd Josiah to elease an anti corruption music album

Seun Kutti a famous African singer sand many anti corruption songs in his albums

British councils organized in Manila (2006), an anti corruption song writing competition. Gospel Rapper topped the competition by his lyric . The other finalists were Gary Granada (Ang Kailangan gawin), Rober David (Kahit Na), Chona Borromeo (Simulan Natin),Ruben Lopez (I am Shield), Edu Reyes (Tagilan Mo Na Yan) and Mike Villagas ( Sabay Tayong Magpalki ng Maganda Ngayon).

Tunisian singer Hamada Ben-Amor popularly known General was arrested for his music album ‘President, Your People Are Dying’ wherein general accused the authorities for not curbing poverty and corruption

A Kenyan hip hop singer James Wathigo (JimW@t) sang anti corruption song in Simama’ album with other top Kenyan singers .

Anti Flag an American rock band had been releasing many music albums every year from 1988. There are many songs in its albums talking about political corruption.

In Bangladesh, many musicians and singers released songs related to subject of corruption

The music album ‘Songs that Made America Famous’ by Patrick Sky (1973) contains many songs those are against corruption.

New York magazine (January 1995, Vol 28, No 5) briefs about songs of anti corruption in various music albums released in America and pacific region

Singers Lynrd Skynyrd and Neil Young sand songs on corruption in their music albums

It is no secret that there in each country that is plagued by corruption , there are sensitive musicians and singers as .famous Indian singer Narendra Singh Negi releasing music albums criticizing corruption.

To be continued........

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti bckukreti@gmail.com