- Angélique Kidjo cautions musicians against political endorsements
- She emphasizes artistic freedom and independence
- Kidjo warns that freedom can be lost quickly if not protected
Renowned singer Angélique Kidjo has voiced her perspective on why musicians should avoid aligning with political parties. In a recent interview on Talk to Al Jazeera, Kidjo shared insights inspired by advice from her father.
“My father always used to say to us… especially to me as a singer, do not write music for any political party because they come and go, and once they’re gone, you go with it,” Kidjo recounted.
The celebrated artist underscored the value of maintaining artistic independence, saying, “Write your music with your opinion, be free in writing your music… don’t be sold to somebody because then you no longer become the voice of the people; you become the voice of power. And when that power shifts, you’re out the window.”
Kidjo also expressed her apprehensions regarding the vulnerability of freedom, particularly in Western societies. She cautioned, “The thing I always say to western people who have had freedom all these years is that you take it for granted… in a heartbeat it can be taken away from you. If you’ve never lost it, you don’t know how it feels.”
According to Kidjo, both musicians and citizens have a duty to speak out against threats to freedom, emphasizing that silence could lead to its eventual erosion.
