This study examines Mozambican popular music to investigate three 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 three different presidents led the country. Our focus is on the protest song, conceived as those musical products that are concerned with public affairs, particularly public policy and how it affects citizens’ social, political and economic life, and the relationship between citizens and the state.
In Mozambique, development programmes have traditionally drawn on music as a means to promote social transformation by educating citizens on key social development issues. Shifting the focus from music as a teaching medium to music as a rich source of information can provide vital insights into public opinion and political ideas, and significantly impact the development of citizen engagement projects. Maximum gains for development and civil society agencies can be achieved by mainstreaming gender into mutual learning activities between singers, audiences, and academics.
Au cours des deux dernières décennies, les partenaires de l’aide multilatérale et bilatérale préconisent des réformes pour améliorer l’environnement des affaires dans les pays africains. Au Mozambique, depuis 1995, les bailleurs apportent leur soutien à des actions visant la promotion d’un groupe d’hommes et de femmes d’affaires nationaux supposé∙es capables de créer des synergies pour le développement national. L’article s’appuie sur six mois de recherches ethnographiques auprès de la Confederação das Associações Económicas de Moçambique (Confédération des associations économiques du Mozambique, CTA), menées dans la ville de Maputo et la province de Sofala entre 2018 et 2019. Alors que le processus de réforme de l’environnement des affaires au Mozambique s’est largement concentré sur les dimensions juridiques et administratives, cet article suggère que la réforme a négligé la question de l’accès au crédit, principale préoccupation de la majorité des entrepreneurs mozambicain∙es. De plus, dans le modèle actuel de Réformes de l’environnement des affaires promu par les bailleurs de l’aide internationale, la CTA apparaît comme une institution où les intérêts de l’élite dirigeante, des entrepreneurs et des bailleurs s’entremêlent, créant ainsi des opportunités pour les seules élites mozambicaines et le capital international et dont les retombées sur le reste de l’économie nationale sont faibles.
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