After reviewing activist musician submissions from over 20 countries across the globe, our international digital jury has selected the three top music videos in the Fair Play Anti-Corruption Youth Voices Competition 2020.
We are pleased to announce that the three official winners of the 2020 Anti-Corruption Youth Voices Competition are:
Alesh
Song: Biloko Ya Boye (English subtitles)
Genre: AfroBeats
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alesh (real name Alain Chirwisa) is a committed rapper, slammer, producer and businessman who lives and works between Kinshasa and the rest of the world. He started his solo career in 2006 and received the ‘Revelation of Congolese music’ award at the Okapi Awards, a pan-African music awards show, in 2011. In 2018 he was voted most influential young person by the magazine Kivuzik. A key highlight for Alesh was meeting President Barack Obama within the framework of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Alesh has performed internationally in the USA, Belgium, Congo, Uganda, DRC and the UK and at various showcases and festivals including the Millionaire Club, Carré Club, Standing Club, I level, Bayimba, Mbote hip hop, and many more.
Cill
Song: Sound the Alarm
Genre: Singer - Songwriter
Country: Nigeria
Cill (born Chioma Ogbonna) is a Singer/Songwriter, guitarist based in Lagos State, Nigeria. Born and raised in Edo State, Nigeria to a family of seven, she was drawn to music at an early age. Her interest in music was fueled by her eldest brother who constantly introduced anyone who cared to new music in various genres and her father who would wake up each morning to tunes from Jimmy Reeves, Christy Lane, Don Williams, Majek Fashek, Evi Edna, Sunny Okosun, etc. She became interested in the guitar at an early age and used her first salary as a teacher to purchase her first guitar. The ultimate proof of her love for music was when she left her job at KPMG in 2016 to pursue a career in music.
Cill loves telling stories using music and uses her music to promote social causes. She is a member of the Music for Democracy Network collaborating with other artists from different parts of the world to promote issues of democracy using music. In 2019 she received the Accountability Music Award by Accountability Lab and One Campaign, being nominated alongside great artists such as Falz, Fatoumata Diawara, Sauti Sol and Platinum Prince.
Shanti Powa
Song: Rolling On
Genre: Reggae
Country: Italy
Shanti Powa are a 10 piece big band from northern Italy who produce a powerful mix of reggae, hiphop, dub, ska, funk, dancehall, rock & world music. Because of their different cultural background the lyrics are in English, as well as some in Italian, German and South Tyrolean dialect. Shanti Powa have performed hundreds of concerts all over the European continent with their energetic live show, from festivals such as Rototom Sunsplash in Spain, Boomtown Fair in the UK, Overjam in Slovenia…. Their goal is to create a unique sound & vibe, and to bring joy to the crowd, as well as a forward thinking message. The project was founded by the singer & frontman Berise in 2010 and since then the group has released 3 studio albums & various singles, as well as countless music videos. Currently they are working on a new album with Grammy nominated producer Gaudi and mix magician Guido Craveiro.
Welcome to the movement!
JM International and Transparency International welcome Alesh, Cill and Shanti Powa to the anti-corruption music movement and would like to thank all participating artists and encourage them to continue fighting the good fight to bring an end to corruption.
Special performances by the three winners will be streamed at the 2020 Digital International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) running from the 1st to the 4th of December. The IACC is the world’s premier global forum for bringing together heads of state, civil society, the private sector and more to tackle the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption around the globe.
About Fair Play
Fair Play started in 2010 and calls on young musicians to submit music videos that take on issues around corruption and social justice. The best entries are selected to participate and perform at the International Anti-corruption Conference or IACC (the world's largest anti-corruption event), which includes the Fair Play Bootcamp, where they receive training on how to amplify their messages, whilst practicing their art and activism in a safe and sustainable way. Fair Play additionally organises local artist-driven events around the world, where issues around corruption are directly addressed by those facing them. The powerful messages of these songs are shaping the world and letting the corrupt know that their days are numbered!
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Questions? Email the Fair Play team at: info@anticorruptionmusic.org