Music is more than just beats and lyrics. It's a universal language that breaks barriers, crosses cultures, and hits us right in the feels. From ancient drum beats to modern rap, music communicates emotions, shares stories, and — surprise! — fights for human rights. Whether it’s blasting through your speakers or rallying people to action, music has always been there during the highs and lows of life.
Ready to see how music rocks the world beyond just making us dance ? ⏯️
🎶 The Importance of Music in Our Lives
For Pierre Lemarquis, a neurologist specialising in the link between the brain and music, "music existed before language and survives in our brains. Music is a sign, a language. Whatever our age, we all have a musical brain just waiting to help us through life. Music accompanies our moments of joy, sadness, reflection and even struggle. Studies show that music has a positive impact on our mental and physical well-being. It reduces stress, improves mood, provokes emotions, develops our skills and can even help us heal 😌. But at a deeper level, music forms a mould of identity that is both individual and collective. It can bring communities together, create cultural identities and generate a sense of solidarity. In addition to being an art form that is present in our lives on a daily basis.
🔗 Music and Human Rights United by The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Can you believe it ? Music and human rights goes way back to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 📖. So get this, article 19 is all about the freedom to speak our minds without getting crushed. And guess what ? Music is like the guardian of self-expression in this scenario. Then there's article 27, which says we all have the right to get in on the cultural action of the community. And how do we do that? You guessed it - through music! Crazy no ! 👀
Human rights, as fundamental principles guaranteeing the dignity, freedom and equality of every individual, have often been defended and promoted through song 🎵.
🧩 Music and Human Rights : a Perfect Match
Throughout history, music has been a powerful tool for human rights activism. Music and song form a consensus that highlights certain problems in our societies. It doesn’t just make us feel good ; it also raises awareness, challenges injustice, and inspires change. We have witnessed in the past where music has been the source of change in societies.
Take Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat. He didn’t just create incredible music, he took on Nigeria’s corrupt government in his hit song "Zombie", where he compared the army to... well, zombies 🧟. The government was not a fan. Fela was jailed several times, but he kept singing for freedom.
Or think about Fairouz💎, a Lebanese icon whose music was a symbol of unity during the civil war. Refusing to take sides, she didn’t sing for political factions, and her voice became a bridge for peace in a divided country. Her songs about justice and dignity brought people together across religious and political lines.
And, let's not forget about Joan Baez (last example, promise 🤞), often nicknamed "the queen of folk" or "the Madonna of the poor". She's a committed artist, particularly against war and social injustice.
📢 Music : the Megaphone of the Oppressed
When words fall short, music comes to the rescue. It's an emotional, visceral way to stand up for what’s right. Take Miriam Makeba, a South African singer who was exiled for 30 years during apartheid because of her anti-segregation songs. She didn't let that stop her, continuing to sing for freedom from afar 💪.
Music has helped launch and sustain social movements across the globe. Songs like “We Shall Overcome” were the soundtracks to the civil rights movement in the U.S., while “Sun City”, a protest song against apartheid, rallied international support 🤝.
⛔ When Music Becomes a Threat to Power
Music isn’t always just a feel-good anthem. Sometimes, it's such a powerful force that governments crack down on it. In oppressive regimes, musicians often pay the ultimate price for speaking out. In several countries, governments severely repress musicians who criticise the regime, denounce injustice or speak out on human rights🤐. The forms of repression vary, from outright censorship to arrest or physical violence to be killed.
Unfortunately there are many examples. During Pinochet’s dictatorship in Chile, Victor Jara, a folk singer who supported the working class, was brutally murdered for his activism. And it's not just in the past. In recent years, Phyo Zeya Thaw, a Burmese rapper and activist, was executed by the military junta for his outspoken songs against oppression. He, like many others, knew the risks but kept using music to call for change 🕊️.
💀 When Music Crosses to the Dark Side ...
Music is great and all, but it doesn't always stand up for human rights, you know ? Take the case of narcocorridos in Mexico, songs that glorify drug lords, violence, and crime. These songs, while often reflecting the harsh realities of life in cartel-controlled areas, also normalize dangerous lifestyles 👊. Artists like Peso Pluma, one of the most popular musicians on Spotify in 2023, sing about drug cartels and narcotrafficking leaders. His songs celebrate cartel culture while criticizing corruption and government intervention, making him a controversial figure. His track "La People" openly mentions cartel figures "El Chapo Guzmán" and blends references to luxury with violence, showing how the narco lifestyle mixes wealth with brutality 🤬.
This type of music shows how an art form can sometimes be misused to undermine the fundamental values of human rights, promoting anarchy and violence at the expense of peace and human dignity.
Music is life, it entertains, inspires, and, most importantly, unites us in the fight for justice. From rebel anthems to peaceful ballads, it has the unique power to mobilize, challenge, and even overturn oppressive systems. However, it is essential to recognize that, like any influential tool, music can also be exploited.
The takeaway ? Keep listening, keep creating, and keep using music to stand up for what's right🙏. Let’s make sure our playlists stand up for freedom, justice, and equality, while staying alert to when the beat takes a darker turn.
Sources :
Amnesty International, Human Rights songs, The power of our voice, 2014
Courrier International, Chanter peut etre dangereux, 2022
Eyes on Europe, La musique comme outil de revandication, 2021
Development Education, Exploring history and human rights through world music, the Editions, 2015
SNEP, Rapport IFPI, L'ecoute de la musique dans le monde est de plus en plus important et les modes de consommations de plus en plus divers, 2023
Lisa Germano, Melodies revoltes : les artistes engages qui instiprent le changement, 2024
Ghadeny F., Beyond international human rights - music and songs in contextualised stuggles for gender equlity, Transnational legal Therory, 2022
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