Dancehall musician Shatta Wale has some choice words for young people going into December 7 polls: If any politician comes to you and tells you to go and fight in this year’s elections ask them the whereabouts of their children and family members.
The hashtag #SM4Peace attached to the post indicates that the Shatta Movement leader wants his followers to desist from violent acts during the election.
If any politician come to you and tell you to go and fight in this year’s elections ask them the whereabouts of their children and family members #SM4Peace pic.twitter.com/b2SgCj8R8s
— SHATTA WALE (@shattawalegh) December 3, 2020
Given his influence in inner cities and Zongos, Shatta’s voice will go a long way to promote another peaceful milestone for Ghana’s democracy.
But there’s a bigger problem with political violence Shatta Wale may not be able to help address and that’s hinted in a reply to Shatta’s tweet: the vigilantes used to perpetrate electoral violence are aware politicians will never allow their children do anything close to what they do for them on election days.
Lol… You figure sey the people wey dey fight give the politicians them no know sey the politicians get kiddies 😁
— Black Stallion 🇬🇭 🇺🇦 (@Boss_Ansong) December 3, 2020
The dynamic is much more complex than merely appealing to the sensibilities of young people. There’s a need for a more holistic approach to retail politics so that we can get rid of violence, insults, and unnecessary acrimony.
Still kudos to the dancehall king — in da whole Ghana.
