- Title: SENEGAL: Senegal's griots take to the campaign trail
- Date: 24th February 2012
- Summary: DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 21, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GRIOT MOUSSA SAMB PRAISING THE SOCIALIST PARTY ON A MEGA PHONE CAR CARRYING CAMPAIGNERS FOR SOCIALIST PARTY TRAVELLING THROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) MOUSSA SAMB, POLITICAL GRIOT FOR SOCIALIST PARTY IN SENEGAL SAYING: "The role of the griot is to be with his leader, to tell the people about this leader, and try to build momentum and motivate the followers so that they know this guy is the best candidate." CAMPAIGNER RUNNING ALONGSIDE CAR WITH LEAFLETS (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) MOUSSA SAMB, POLITICAL GRIOT FOR SOCIALIST PARTY IN SENEGAL SAYING: "What we are seeing with Y'en a Marre's style of music is that we know that it is rooted in the griot tradition, but it is modernised. So it is bringing our fight in a modern way with new technology and new art. They are reaching a big audience and talking to people of their generation." VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS DANCING AND SINGING DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 22, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) CHEIKH GUEYE, LEADER OF BENNO SIGGIL SENEGAL PARTY AND FIRST DEPUTY MAYOR OF DAKAR SAYING: "Sometimes we use rap famous Senegalese music, there is a famous Senegalese rap song that goes, 'Who wants the President to go back home? Hands up?" DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 21, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION PROTESTERS ON THE STREETS CHANTING "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" IN FRENCH DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 22, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) YACINE NDIAYE, OPPOSITION SUPPORTER: "I prefer to listen to rappers, because if someone gives the griots money, they will say anything. I prefer the rappers, because it's the rappers who tell the truth. I really like the rappers." PROTESTERS DANCING AT A RALLY OPPOSITION CANDIDATE IDRISSA SECK AT DOWNTOWN RALLY MORE OF DANCING PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 10th March 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Senegal, Senegal
- Country: Senegal
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA57HQ8D6MGA0NH1NRKE1B4RZ62
- Story Text: For generations, Moussa Samb's family has passed on political news by singing songs and chanting poems through the streets of Senegal.
He is part of a griot family, and he has followed in his grandfather's footsteps, singing and chanting praises for Senegal's Socialist Party.
During Senegal's 2012 presidential election campaigns, Samb has been following one of the Socialist party stars, Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall through the streets of the capital city while encouraging people to vote for the Socialist candidate, Ousmane Tanor Dieng, on February 26.
"The role of the griot is to be with his leader, to tell the people about this leader, and try to build momentum and motivate the followers so that they know this guy is the best candidate," says Samb.
In this year's election, griots are sharing the campaign spotlight with Senegal's politically motivated rappers. The opposition group Y'en a Marre ("Enough is Enough") was founded by local musicians and journalists and has been a driving force behind opposition protests throughout the country that are calling for change.
Samb says he is happy to see rap having an influence on politics in Senegal.
"What we are seeing with Y'en a Marre's style of music is that we know that it is rooted in the griot tradition, but it is modernised. So it is bringing our fight in a modern way with new technology and new art. They are reaching a big audience and talking to people of their generation."
The song "Na Dem" by Y'en a Marre member El Hadj Dia, whose stage name is "Red Black," is often played by opposition candidates while on the campaign trail. Even as Samb sings his griot songs in the streets, "Na Dem" blares from another campaign truck's loudspeakers.
Cheikh Geuye, who is one of the leaders of another opposition party, Benno Siggil Senegal, says his party also uses the song to appeal to voters who want current President Abdoulaye Wade to quit his controversial bid for a third term.
"Sometimes we use rap famous Senegalese music, there is a famous Senegalese rap song goes, 'Who wants the President to go back home? Hands up?'" says Geuye of the "Na Dem" lyrics.
At anti-government protests in downtown Dakar, youth dance and sing along to the song.
Yacine Ndiaye, says she wanted to vote for Youssou N'dour, Senegal's most famous singer, before his candidacy was declared invalid. Though N'dour is from a traditional griot family, Ndiaye adds she trusts rappers over griots when it comes to political commentary.
"I prefer to listen to rappers, because if someone gives the griots money, they will say anything. I prefer the rappers, because it's the rappers who tell the truth. I really love rappers."
The demonstrators in downtown Dakar have also expressed their love of Senegal's political rappers as they dance and wave their hands, gesturing for the current president to leave.
Senegal goes to the polls on Sunday (February 26) after a highly charged lead up marred by protests and violence.
President Wade is facing 13 opposition candidates including three former prime ministers Idrissa Seck, Macky Sall, Moustapha Niasse and socialist leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng. None is a clear frontrunner.
Election analysts say Wade needs to secure a first-round victory as he may fair badly in a one-on-one run off. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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