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"Green music": culture and climate change (part one)
Can culture combat climate change? The Senegalese singer and activist Baaba Maal travelled to Copenhagen as the UN negotiations drew to a close to highlight the critical role of music and communication in saving the environment.
In the first of two exclusive reports for Africa Talks Climate, Baaba talks about the unique role of music in African history and culture.
A lot of Africans are worried about climate change. They see the changes around them but can’t relate it to the science of global warming.
When it comes to big cities like Dakar, where a lot of the educated people live, they can understand it. But when you travel to rural areas where people don’t speak English or French, they can see what’s happening but can’t explain it. And when they see someone like me who travels a lot they want to ask me about it.
Understanding climate change
Last year when I came back from a tour in London, my uncle, who’s a fisherman, told me that he couldn’t fish anymore. He said that there were no more fish in the waters and he didn’t know why, or what to say to his family. I told him it was because of climate change. But I don’t think he really understood. This is why we need to communicate in local African languages to explain things that my uncle, and millions of other people like him, can’t understand – especially the things which will continue to affect them.
In my family there are strong connections to the land. We have land over the Senegal River in Mauritania, but it’s been difficult to farm the land for a long time now. Traditionally my people are a nomadic people but now some live near the big rivers and work in agriculture. Before, they would travel all over Africa following their cows, goats and sheep to places to try to find water and grass. The rhythm of their life was given to the seasons.
During the rainy season they would go to the upper regions and afterwards they moved down to the rivers. But now they don’t know when the rains are coming and this has affected their entire way of life. It’s a big problem. And it’s the same in the cities.
Because of these changes in the climate and growing poverty, more and more people are moving to the big cities. But they have no idea what is going to happen to them or their children – or how they’ll survive.
Last year the rains were especially bad and there was heavy flooding across Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali. People were shocked, depressed and completely unprepared. Some even moved back to their villages. They want to know what is happening and why.
The people want support from the government but I think the people in power don’t really understand what is happening either – they are also going through the same problems.
Green music
When it comes to music and culture in Africa, it’s not like the west where it’s a business. In Africa we use it to educate our children, to learn about our history and social responsibilities and actions. Music is an important way of communicating messages, so when it comes to understanding climate change, I believe people will look to the musicians.
In the music industry there are two markets that we African musicians work to: the western markets and of course our local markets. I live near the Senegal River and I remember when it was green with lots of trees but now when you look around all you see is the Sahara desert. The whole area is changing and it scares me. The younger generations need to understand why this is happening so they know how to face it.
So last year I wrote a song telling everyone to plant more trees. When I made the video I sang in my local African language and in French. It was important to reach across different communities – my own people and those who live in the cities.
I want to use my voice to make Africa [and African issues] more prominent. We can use music and culture to make it happen and show the rest of the world that Africa belongs to the third millennium like everyone else.
Deal or no deal?
Whatever happens with the negotiations, I think it’s important to believe if we are all here together then the solution should come from all of us, not just from the politicians. More and more Africans want their voices to be heard – especially in conversations about the future of the planet. Africa is an important part of this planet and can play a big role.
I’ve always said that Africa needs to be involved in any global process. We need to have the chance to sit down at the table and make our voices heard. Then maybe a good solution can also come from Africa. We are human beings, we think and we face the same problems, and we want to protect our future generations.
When it comes to climate change, I know that Africans are not responsible for most of the bad things like carbon emissions. But last year, South Africa produced more carbon emissions than France and Australia. So at some point, we are all responsible, especially when you see how people are behaving without truly knowing the effects.
This is why I believe that culture and a new way of communicating is so important in
Africa.
This article is adapted from Baaba Maal In Conversation with Stephen Sackur, which took place as part of a series of events to raise awareness of climate change in Africa, including a youth debate with BBC World Have Your Say and The Greatest Debate on Earth with BBC World News.