Deputy Party Leader of the Justice and Freedom Party (JFP) and renowned musician-turned-political activist, Reuben Kigame, has issued a powerful call to action, urging Kenyan artists to harness the power of music as a tool for social and political resistance.
In a public statement released on Monday, Kigame, a veteran gospel artist and a respected voice in both music and activism, declared that "music is not just entertainment—it is a weapon of truth and transformation." Drawing parallels with pivotal global movements, he highlighted how music played a central role in the U.S. civil rights movement, the fall of Apartheid in South Africa, and the Arab Spring uprisings.
“When you mismanage a society, the result will be cultural resistance through different means, including art,” Kigame said. “Leadership is a responsibility, not a right. Bad leadership will and must be resisted.”
Kigame urged Kenyan musicians across all genres to “step out boldly and write songs of resistance”, saying the Justice and Freedom Party is ready to support the production and promotion of such music to awaken national consciousness.
He noted that the country is at a critical juncture, grappling with widespread disillusionment, corruption, economic hardship, and a growing disconnect between citizens and those in power. In his view, cultural expression—especially music—can serve as a powerful voice of the people when other avenues seem closed.
“We cannot allow silence to become the soundtrack of our suffering. Kenya needs a new soundtrack—one that speaks truth to power, amplifies the cries of the marginalized, and calls our leaders back to integrity and service,” he stated.
Kigame emphasized that music has historically served as a mirror of society and a megaphone for the oppressed, and that Kenyan artists have a duty to carry that mantle forward in today's challenging political climate.
“We are not asking for violence. We are calling for truth. We are calling for artists to rise up and remind the nation of its values, its dreams, and its right to dignity,” he said.
The JFP Deputy Leader also pointed out that artistic and cultural resistance is often the first step in national healing, renewal, and transformation, urging institutions, media houses, and producers to amplify voices of resistance instead of silencing them.
Reuben Kigame’s statement comes as frustrations mount across the country over the rising cost of living, youth unemployment, and perceptions of increasing impunity among public officials. His call is likely to resonate with a generation of young creatives eager to use their platforms for advocacy and change.
“This is not the time to be silent. It is the time to sing,” Kigame concluded. “And when we sing together, a nation can rise again.”
Reuben Kigame, who is also a doctoral teaching fellow at the Africa International University is an authority in sonic activism, having written several social justice songs himself. These include “Cry the Pain”, “Why Kill tonight”, “Who Will Help the Refugees” and a political track called “Tumechoka” which he released just before the 2022 general elections, urging Kenyans to resist the culture of plunder and corruption.
Kigame is not just a political voice. He is expected to graduate with a doctorate in World Christianity this July, his research being on the nexus of music and social justice.
His study explores how British Anglican priest, Garth Hewitt, the late American Civil Rights music queen, Mahalia Jackson and Kenya’s Julius Owino (aka Juliani) have used their music to promote social justice.
This is bound to be an interesting research project for the Church and the African continent given that Kigame is a Gospel musician himself and a committed social justice activist His work looks deeply at sonic activism, focusing not just on the three case studies but also the global history of resistance music from artistes like Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Kizito Mihigo, Thomas Maphumo, and our own Serabi Band, Eric Wainaina and Sauti Sol.
The dissertation digs back into the activism of musicians like Kalamashaka, Mashifta andFaustin Munishi.
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