August　2003

　

Sounds of dissent

NI (No.359)

<<CONTENTS>>

9 Politics with soul
Radical music can be a powerful force for change. Adam Ma'anit explores the world of political music.

13 Rock star kidnap
Polyp dreams of a show which asks the questions YOU want answered.

14 Even our enemies deserve music
Jeff Chang takes heart from a new generation of political musicians.

17 No compromise
A tribute to Nina Simone.

18 SOUND FACTS

20 Pariah beats
Julian Silverman explains how Dalit communities in India use music to subvert the caste system.

22 Music rebels
Political music pioneers Dmitri Shostakovich, Remitti, Victor Jara, Cui Jian, Bob MarLey, Fela Kuti, Mercedes Sosa and Miriam Makeba.

24 Culture bandit
Music has always played an important role in Zimbabwe's popular uprisings. Adam Ma'anit meets Thomas Mapfumo - one of the country's most celebrated music agitators.

26 Songwriter, musicmaker, storyteller, freak
Folksinger Ani DiFranco is undermining corporate patriarchy.

28 Acting in concert
Sound advice for action, inspiration and organization.


<Regular Features>

2 Letters

4 Southern Exposure
A Hindu temple surrounded by sea in Trinidad, photographed by Wyatt Gallery.

5 View from the South
Elections in Africa can be fraught and fraudulent - but are still better than the alternative, says Ike Oguine.

6 Currents
Westerners shopping for babies in India; global gay-rights battle; US right attacks NGOs; African AIDS programmes on wrong track.
PLUS: Speechmarks - new quotation feature.
PLUS: Word Corner - Demonstration.

29 Worldbeaters
How Australian leader John Howard built his political fortune on refugee-bashing.

30 Mixed Media
BOOKS, MUSIC, FILM review

32 Big Bad World
Polyp says it with flowers.
PLUS: NI Prize Crossword

33 Making Waves
Interview with Stephen Kenny, lawyer for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

34 Essay - Verbicide
Resisting the brutalization of language, by Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti.

36 Count Profile -Togo

NI-Japan (No.47)

<<CONTENTS>>

Sounds of dissent
There is no doubt about the political and social power of music. On one hand, the commercialised music we listen to on the radio and TV every day, imparts messages, obvious or not, about the way society is or should be, according to the record companies and the mainstream media. But music is also a very important part of the alternative messages. It has been the voice for countless activists over the generations and its power of communication and inspiration is a real source for change.

<This month's article>
-Translation of "Politics with soul" (p9-12)
-Translation of "Songwriter, musicmaker, storyteller, freak" (p26-27)

<Reporting from Japan>
-Political and Social Messages in Music: the people who make them and the system that tries to stop them
---Self-censorship and the "Banned Songs"
---Messages from the Grassroots: Utagoe Movement ("Singing Voice of Japan")

<Contact Points>
Utagoe organizations and event information.

<Country Profile>
-Translation of "Country Profile - Togo" (p36)



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