Pro-Military Music Videos and Solidarity with the Military in Niger

2023-09-10 19:02:22

Many of the videos now circulating have existed for several years, but have only experienced a revival since the overthrow of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by a group of generals at the end of July. Especially on the state television station Tele Sahel, videos of old and new military propaganda are accumulating, which have now been remixed for the TikTok era, as the “New York Times” (“NYT”) wrote.

In one of the videos in question, a famous trio of artists in uniform praises the soldiers, who are said to be as fast as antelopes. In another, pick-up trucks race through the desert to intercept suspected criminals. And in a third, a dragon from the series “Game of Thrones” flies through the sky while a well-known pro-military singer compares it to men in uniform and praises their “strength, wisdom and intelligence.”

While in many other countries, following military takeovers, artists in particular protest once morest authoritarian power structures with their music, many in the Nigerien cultural scene are signaling their approval of the new rulers with the revival of new videos and music.

APA/AFP In addition to pro-military music videos, many people in Niger are also expressing their support for the military junta on the streets

Solidarity with the military

The widespread distribution of pro-military propaganda videos also provides insight into the history that exists between the Nigerien population and the military. Observers believe that fear and respect for the military are deeply rooted in society. The military has been omnipresent with five coups in the last 50 years and also recently through the fight once morest Islamist uprisings.

In addition, many in Niger partly welcomed the end of democratic rule, as they associated it primarily with corruption, economic hardship and restricted freedom of expression – including for artists. In addition, around 71 percent of the Nigerien population said in an Afrobarometer survey from June last year that they had “a lot of trust” in the military.

Young people experience military rule for the first time

With the military taking power for the first time since 2010, many of Niger’s 25 million people, half of whom are under 15, are experiencing military rule for the first time. For the past month, hundreds of young people have kept vigil every night, checking suspicious-looking cars, heeding the junta’s call to protect the country from foreign invasion. Pro-military songs were often heard.

One of the most listened to is Mamane Sani Maigochi, himself a former military man and one of the best-known pro-military singers, as reported by France 24, among others. The Nigerien military recently shared one of its songs on Facebook, accompanied by images of General Abdourahmane Tiani, who appointed himself head of state following the coup, and other military leaders.

APA/AFP The ex-military Mamane Sani Maigochi is one of the best-known and most listened to singers of pro-military music

In it he sings, among other things: “Soldiers are powerful. They defeat aggressors and save our country.” Most recently, he also performed in front of the military junta in the country’s largest stadium, filled with thousands of fans and military personnel.

Music video amid protests

Another hit in Niger is the rap duo MDM, which sings in their new song “Niger Guida” (“Niger, my home” in the Hausa language, which is widespread in West and Central Africa, note): “Niger is ours Homeland, anyone who attacks us must face the consequences. We are not afraid of death, come and kill us.”

As WDR also reported, the duo is alluding, among other things, to the reactions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which imposed economic sanctions once morest the military junta following the coup and even threatened military intervention.

They recorded the music video for the song shortly following the president was overthrown at a pro-military rally in the Nigerien capital Niamey. In it they appear surrounded by many protesters with raised fists and Nigerien flags, as well as many military personnel.

Expert sees “a lot of censorship”

While only pro-military gatherings are permitted in Niger and many artists have remained silent since the coup, protests once morest the military junta can also be heard from abroad. The well-known group Mdou Moctar recently declared their support for the deposed president at a concert in New York’s Central Park.

Many experts also doubt the widespread positive mood in Niger created by many artists. “Most of the voices we hear now are those that are allowed,” the “NYT” quoted Ousseina Alidou, a Nigerian linguist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, who attested, among other things, to “a lot of censorship” by the military leadership.

The patriotic, pro-military songs would also hide the bleak prospect of increased censorship under military rule, as has recently occurred in the neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso.

Artists also do not see the military as untouchable

But artists in Niger argued that even under the rule of the deposed President Bazoum and his predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou, they only had limited freedom of expression. “As soon as democracy doesn’t work, people turn to the military,” singer Aichatou Ali Soumaila of the band Sogha told the NYT, whose 2016 song regarding the army has recently regained popularity.

However, many artists, including Souleymane Barke, a member of the MDM duo, warned that they would also attack the military in their music if they went once morest the will of the people. “Mighty people can be brought down,” Soumaila agreed. You always have this card in your hand.

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