Alif Naaba sings for a better world in Gomde

Original Story Published by: Lucy Ilado , www.musicinafrica.net
Photo Source: musicinafrica.net

(Above) Alif Naaba.

Of all the attributes that set Alif Naaba apart – his versatility and fusion of different genres of music – point to his connection with humanity and its many cultures.

In 2015, the Burkinabe musician released ‘Et Maintenant’ (Times Are Changing) – an awareness song on climate change. He emphasised that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. At the time, it was easy to ignore what was happening but today most agree that climate change is here. It's also questionable whether we can reverse its effects. But there is one thing that we can try to control: human suffering.

All over the world people experience anguish the same way when faced with war, exploitation and violence. Naaba says that as political leaders play their part, artists should also be at the forefront to do more in mobilising people to live up to their central duty: to help protect those in dire need. “We truly ought to make the world a better place by fighting for the broken and the lonely,” he tells Music In Africa.

This is a message that he extends in ‘Gomdé’. The song is a dark testament to the desperate human need for security, especially in Burkina Faso, which has experienced countless terror attacks by jihadist groups. The attacks began in Mali before spreading to the northern region of Burkina Faso.