Through music and dance
Standing up against corruption
A CHANCE meeting with Fijian singer Josa Nailati in 2022 became the catalyst for the creation of integrity and anti corruption songs by Youths4Integrity, the youth network of CLCT Integrity Fiji, a Chapter IF of Transparency International.
“For CSOs in the anticorruption space, advocating on it is usually challenging. There is the legal jargon and the technical language. We have to be creative in spreading anti corruption messages since we have to compete in the global media environment with other messages that the public may feel are more worthy of their time,” Grace Konrote, the Youth Coordinator said.
“Long lectures bore the public. That is why we turned to videos, songs, contemporary dances, posters and social media to spread anti-corruption advocacy.”
Using amateur filmmakers in high schools and universities, Youths4Integrity leaders and members have developed integrity and anti corruption youtube videos. The group has also put out contemporary dances, posters, fliers, banners to spread their messages. Still smarting from “Take It Away” a song composed and sung by YFIs to the tune of “Wimbowey’ and with snide comments from baby boomers on Facebook on the flat singing (Dau yavu domo ca!), the leaders decided to get professional help.
In January 2022, Fiji had reappeared in the global Corruption Perceptions Index after a lapse of 16 years. The last CPI for Fiji was in 2004. To celebrate and also publicise anti-corruption strategies, Josa Nailati was commissioned to come up with the Fiji CPI song “Stand Up Against Corruption”.
We were inspired by comments on Josa’s youtube channel to continue producing more songs.
One wrote: “I don’t know why this song got me emotional, but power to music and lyrics! Let’s all be beacons of hope for a better future! #StandUpAgainstCorruption.”
Yet another wrote: “It takes courage to voice our opinions against corruption, verbally or in writing. But you chose this genre to do just that! And I must say, with that beat, it surely is gonna have a knockout ripple effect this corrupt world needs to get your message through!”
“Funding for the anticorruption expressive arts has been provided by Transparency International. We are also deeply grateful for the huge support provided by the British High Commissioner Dr Brian Jones and his Deputy Ms Nicola Noble. They have always provided a very inspiring venue (the UK High Commission Residence) and sumptuous food in launching all of Josa’s anti-corruption songs. This means so much to us,” Ms Konrote said.
The culmination of years of hard work was the Launch of the Integrity and Anti Corruption Album entitled ‘Integrity’ by CLCT Integrity Fiji / Transparency International at the UK Residence on February 23. A collective of local artists comprising Josa Nailati, Jedidiah, Tuinasavusavu, Paulini Bautani, Sofaia Sereicocoko, Eta Gonerogo and the sensational rapper DrixStar have worked their hearts out on the Album.
In an earlier interview Josa Nailati said music transcends barriers, making it an ideal medium for delivering social advocacy messages effectively.
“When words fail, music speaks. That was how all of these came together in just really trying to push values and advocate for anti-corruption. Corruption is an issue in Fiji and the Pacific and spreading the message through songs is an effective way to curb it.”
One of the songs in the album is “Ignite A Flame”. The song speaks to individuals on how they can work to fight against corruption. The lyrics are as follows:
Ignite Flame
Where do I go if refuge can’t be found in integrity?
How can I breathe when you’ve spread corruption in the air?
We can’t build on a foundation that is unclean! A nation will never stand on shifting sand!
I will never compromise, lest my humanity dies
Join your hand in mine, stand with me and fight
For integrity and peace, and everything that’s right! Ignite a flame and lead the way! Ignite a flame and light the way! Ignite a flame and show the way! Ignite a flame!
Power of one can start clean procurement
Like a single ember gives new life to a raging flame
Tiny individual drops combine into a wave
A towering wave of integrity!
Josa’s and his collective musicians have garnered international exposure and much interest from state and non-state agencies looking to leverage songs and the expressive arts to spread important social values messages to the public.
“We will continue to use songs, music, dance and expressive arts to spread important messages on integrity and anti-corruption,” Ms Konrote concluded.