Zambian Rapper Advocates for Change Through Music

Samuel Miyoba, a Zambian rapper and human rights activist known as Smack Jay, holds the view that music can offer significant insights into a nation’s character and culture. He is currently in Northern Ireland, working alongside the peacebuilding charity Beyond Skin and its Zambian counterpart, OpenNet 40. Smack Jay employs music as a means to foster hope and champion social change, engaging in collaborations with artists based in Belfast. He stated, “If you want something to change, music is one of the best tools for advocacy.” On Friday, he led workshops at Rathcoole Primary School, located in north Belfast, where he performed songs conveying impactful messages. His lyrical content emphasizes the struggle of young people in Zambia for fundamental rights, including education and access to food and water. Nevertheless, these broader themes bear a notable resemblance to certain discussions currently taking place within Northern Ireland’s society. Smack Jay posed a question to a class of children: “What is your race?” The pupils offered diverse responses: British; Northern Irish; White. He then questioned the final answer. He inquired, “Am I black?” to which he responded, “No, I’m kind of brown.” He continued, “Are you white?” stating, “You’re more of a peach colour,” prompting the children to examine their hands. He conveyed to them that identity is frequently “more personal” than widely recognized and comprehended collective notions. The rapper additionally read excerpts from The Children’s Code, a significant law enacted by Zambia’s parliament in 2022, which the government has stated revolutionized education within the nation. This marked the initial instance of children’s rights being formally codified in Zambia. The rapper read to the class, “You have the right to education, to freedom of expression. You have the right to a name and a national identity.” A recurring phrase in the chorus of one of Smack Jay’s songs is the mantra: “I know my rights.” During the workshop held at Rathcoole Primary, he engaged the children, prompting them to stand and participate as he rapped into the microphone. He informed BBC News NI: “We can only move forward if the young ones come with even better ideas.” “If they come with bad ideas, they will cut ties with the good people around them, so it’s really important that drug abuse and other things are fought seriously.” In June, Smack Jay attended as a special guest at the Refugee Picnic, an event organized by Belfast City of Sanctuary, which serves as an outreach group for migrants and asylum seekers in Northern Ireland. He commented, “I met fellow Africans from Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan and many other countries.” He added, “The way these people have been welcomed in Northern Ireland proved how important it is to care for one another.” He further stated, “I’ve built relationships with rap artists in Northern Ireland and I find them very welcoming.” He concluded, “If we try to advocate more on peaceful issues through music, we are really going to get it right.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.