Some creatives indeed choose to stay away from politics due to concerns about potential backlash or alienating their audience.
However, it is important to note that art and creativity have a long history of engaging with political and social issues. Artists throughout time have used their platforms to express their opinions, challenge the status quo, and bring about change.
While it is understandable that some individuals prefer to remain neutral or keep their personal beliefs separate from their creative work, others feel a strong sense of responsibility to address the issues they care about through their art.
Art has the power to provoke thought, spark conversations, and inspire action. By delving into political themes, creatives contribute to shaping public discourse and raising awareness about important topics.
Engaging with politics is challenging and leads to criticism or the creation of enemies. However, it is important to remember that artists have the right to express their opinions and beliefs, just like anyone else. It is up to the audience to decide whether they agree or disagree with the artist’s message.
Renowned music producer and sound engineer, Fred Kyei Mensah, popularly known as Fredyma, is encouraging creatives not to be intimidated but to proudly stand for their political ideologies and parties.
However, Fredyma strongly disagrees with such assertions, stating that politics isn’t the preserve of some other professionals but everyone, so creatives shouldn’t be guilty of declaring their political colors.
He noted that with a few months to this year’s general election and the campaign season already heating up, many people, especially on social media, had taken delight in insulting him for posting stories about Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is the ruling New Patriotic Party’s(NPP) Presidential candidate.
The unwarranted insults might have forced Fredyma to issue a “warning” to the people, who assumed he was an enemy because of their political differences.
“I am of the view that creatives involved in and declaring their support for a political party is the best since politicians also come from different sectors of the economy. Some are doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc and I believe their stand in politics doesn’t create enemies for them so why for creatives? I will entreat all creative people to get involved in active politics to help shape the governance of the country.
“It is not shameful and your talent or creativity will not be compromised. We have our classmates, friends, and acquaintances from different sectors participating in politics. My only advice is that their campaign messages should be devoid of insults, casting of aspersions and innuendos, mudslinging, deep-seated hatred, and all vices.”
Fredyma
Ultimately, whether or not to engage with politics is a personal choice for each creative individual. Some choose to remain neutral, while others embrace the opportunity to use their platform for political expression. Both choices are valid, and it is important to respect the decisions and perspectives of all creatives.
Composing Campaign Songs By Creatives
Composing songs for political parties during Presidential campaigns by creatives is a common practice to engage supporters and promote the party’s message.
These songs, often called campaign anthems, aim to capture the party’s values, rally supporters, and create an emotional connection with voters.
When composing a campaign song, creatives typically consider several factors like the song, the tone, the lyrics of the song, the style of the song, the genre of the song, and the production of the song.
Creatives like Epixode, KiDi, and Diana Asamoah, among others have shown their interest in composing political parties’ campaign songs.
Meanwhile, Philipa Baafi, a renowned gospel musician, noted that she is open for political parties to use her existing songs if they so wish.
It’s important to note that campaign songs have both positive and negative impacts. A well-crafted and impactful campaign anthem helps generate enthusiasm, energize supporters, and create a memorable brand for the political party.
However, a poorly executed or controversial song has the opposite effect, alienating voters and damaging the campaign’s image.
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