Abstract
This study examines Mozambican popular music to investigate 3 questions: Are notions of empowerment and accountability present in popular music in Mozambique? If so, what can these existing notions of empowerment and accountability reveal about relations between citizens and state institutions in general and about citizen-led social and political action in particular? In what ways is popular music used to support citizen mobilisation in Mozambique? The discussion is based on an analysis of 46 protest songs, interviews with musicians, music producers and event promoters as well as field interviews and observations among audiences at selected popular music concerts and public workshops in Maputo city. Secondary data were drawn from radio broadcasts, digital media, and social networks. The songs analysed were widely played in the past two decades (1998–2018), a period in which 3 different presidents led the country. Our focus is on the protest song, conceived as those musica
Mozambique
Brighton
Brighton-and-hove
United-kingdom
Maputo
Ataela
Inhambane
Mozambican
Sea-research
Institute-of-development
Alternative-expressions