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| Liberian musician Nasseman |
Popular Liberian reggae star, Rabbie Nassrallah alias Nasseman continues to gain international recognition for using his voice and talents to fight corruption in Liberia.
Nasseman, who is expected to be awarded and named Transparency International’s global ambassador in the fight against corruption, is currently partnering with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to campaign against the menace.The IACC, first held in 1983, has evolved into the leading global forum on governance and anti-corruption. It brings together leaders from the public and private sectors, civil society, international organizations, academics and media to discuss the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption. The event takes place every two years in different regions around the world.
It can be recalled that at the event in Panama City in 2016, Nasseman won the Fair Play Anti-Corruption Music Competition with the video of his song “Bonkey.” Fair Play is an IACC’s sponsored global competition for original songs by young bands-age between 18 to 35 on the theme of anti-corruption, integrity, and fighting for social justice.
According to the Liberian star, the award in 2016 inspired him to become an anti-corruption advocate. He explained that ‘Bonkey’ in Liberian Pidgin refers to a corrupt individual and the goal of the song was to bring to light the adverse impact of corruption on Liberians, mainly the poor, and people from all walks of life.
“I did that music to highlight the impact of corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Liberian star artist has been nominated for the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, which is expected to be held in Qatar this December.
The award is geared towards promoting the importance of tackling corruption and encouraging the implementation of the United Nations Convention against corruption.
It is also designed to showcase creative and outstanding achievements of anti-corruption projects from across the globe. It acts as a tool to honor those who have shown dedication to tackling corruption and to inspire others to replicate similar efforts.
What’s up next for Nasseman?
The artist told FPA that in an effort to step up the advocacy against corruption in Liberia and the world at large, he is establishing an organization called “Arts for Transparency.”
He has already registered it with the Liberian Government as a non-for-profit organization that will use artistic work to intensify the fight against corruption.
He vowed to incorporate people with artistic talents in his organization to preach the anti-corruption messages in Liberia and around the world using poetry, music arts and crafts, movies, drama and athletics.
As an upcoming Ambassador for Transparency International, he revealed plans to build a free learning institution for kids to be educated about the negative impact of the menace, noting, “if we must eradicate corruption, the anti-corruption message must reach the next generation of Liberians at an early age.”
To fund the project, he hopes to bring together host of artists with diverse talents and through concerts as well as grants and other forms of support from his sponsors and friends including Transparency International (TI), the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) with whom he is partnering with to campaign against corruption.
He is also calling on the Ministry of Education to incorporate anti-corruption lessons in the Liberian school curriculum.
He thanked TI for its willingness to support his trip to the event in Denmark and the LACC for its continuous support to his work.
Nasseman came to the limelight with his song “Tribute to Ras Kaka Tata. He also has to his credit, “Redemption, Mama Africa, and We are all Africans”
Source: FPA
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