{"id":3451,"date":"2014-03-03T09:40:02","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T09:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=3451"},"modified":"2014-03-03T09:41:48","modified_gmt":"2014-03-03T09:41:48","slug":"5-of-the-greatest-socially-conscious-african-musiciansever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/03\/5-of-the-greatest-socially-conscious-african-musiciansever\/","title":{"rendered":"5 of the greatest socially conscious African musicians ever!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before there were hip-hop movement\u2019s sprouting in the suburbs of Dakar, Senegal or charities launched by Nigerian rap stars, there were African musicians whose songs told stories of a different Africa.<\/p>\n

From the 1960s into the early 1990s, it was Fela Kuti who called music \u2018a weapon\u2019 and Nigeria\u2018s military a troop of \u2018zombies\u2019 as he encouraged the country\u2019s people to speak out against their corrupt government. Within the same time period, Miriam Makeba and Salif Keita used their platforms to bring awareness to cultural injustices in South Africa and Mali, respectively. They addressed issues plaguing the continent, and the impact of their lyrics can still be heard and felt today. As they continue to inspire younger musicians to use their platform for greater good, we look back at how some of Africa\u2019s most socially conscious artists have positively impacted the continent and the world:<\/p>\n

5. Salif Keita- MALI<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Salif<\/a>
Salif Keita at a live performance.
Photo credit: VIXID Team, Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Salif Keita knows what it feels like to be ostracized. Growing up, he was often excluded by his family and members of his village community because of his Albinism. When he began his music career in the late 1960s, Keita became a voice for the community, even dedicating his album La Diff\u00e9rence to albinos around the world. Keita has also used his music for advocacy in other areas, bring awareness to HIV\/AIDS through live performances and giving international audiences a taste of Africa with songs like, what else, \u201cAfrica.\u201d<\/p>\n