Using #Arts4Change and creating unlikely networks

When Rap2Rep (now Voice2Rep or “Voice to Represent”) launched in Liberia in 2015, it was envisioned as a campaign to encourage creative activism among young people using Hip-Co – a popular Liberian musical genre often referred to as ‘political music’. The campaign has since expanded to Nigeria and Zimbabwe, and also gained international attention.

 

The campaign in Liberia was named by the United Nations as one of the finalists for the SDG Action Awards for “harnessing conscious music as a tool for social change through the platform of youth participation.” Voice2Rep was specifically recognized for informing people about the risks of Covid-19 and debunking myths around it.

Voice2Rep has relied on local musicians and artists to grow the campaign into a national movement of active citizens. Beyond the lyrics and music production, the participants and the mentors are matched by the AL team to others in the industry to receive support to create distribution strategies. This is done in tandem with a countrywide network of popular community radio stations. The program also includes mentorship and training, network building, and advocacy. Participants learn how to use their songs to influence thinking, behaviors and local policy in a way that elevates bottom-up approaches.

 

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