Force of Nature: Song Warriors of the Global South was part of MIF in July 2023

Force of Nature; Song Warriors of the Global South saw three Manchester-based women Singers/MCs take to the stage in Factory Square outside Aviva Studios, home of Factory International as part of July 2023’s Manchester International Festival

Sarah Yaseen – singer, songwriter, and peace activist with family roots in Kashmir/Pakistan – Emmanuela Yogolelo – singer, songwriter, cultural activist and leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Meduulla – a Manchester -based conscious MC/Rapper and wordsmith, with cultural roots in Zimbabwe worked together over a three month period to create music for the gig.

Sarah, Emmanuela, and Meduulla worked with climate messaging mentor, Sai Murray, Music Director, Pops Roberts and a stellar team of Global Majority musicians, producers, singers and sound artists: Anna Asiamah, Jaydev Mistry, Justina Aina, Lavender Rodriguez, Tosin Akindele, Tshepe Tshepela & Ethan Hill during the project’s development.

The project responded to the issue of climate justice in the Global South, which is often invisible in narratives, news, policy, and action around climate change.

Yet climate change will disproportionately affect poorer nations.

We’re already witnessing the impacts of the climate emergency through events such as the 2022’s floods in Pakistan and the devastating droughts in Zimbabwe  In central Africa, multi-national companies are exploiting natural resources and clearing forests and land which is accelerating climate change and driving forced migration. One factor is the devastation of the Congo Basin, which is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. Congo Basin is a significant sink for greenhouse gases and reduces its contribution to reducing global heating.

“We’re not saying that climate change affects only Black people. However, it is communities in the Global South that bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change, whether physical – floods, desertification, increased water scarcity and tornadoes – or political: conflict and racist borders.”

Alexandra Wanjiku Kelbert – Black Lives Matter UK. 

Force of Nature: Song Warriors of the Global South was a women-led response to climate justice. Climate change impacts more heavily on the vulnerable. Climate change will inevitably affect more women and girls, and there is rising feminist-informed action on climate change.

Force of Nature: Song Warriors of the Global South was performed in a 50-minute set in the buzzing atmosphere of Festival Square 

Check out the photographs from the Force of Nature performance on Flickr

Photography by Karina So of Vague Digital

“CAN is delighted to announce that Sarah Yaseen has been successful in securing Arts Council England funding for a partnership project with CAN and Greater Manchester libraries which will take Force of Nature and conversations around climate change into local communities.”

Katherine Rogers, Exodus Creative Producer. 

The artists

Originally from the DRC Congo, Emmanuela Yogolelo is an acclaimed singer-songwriter. Her musical influences include African gospel, Afro-jazz, music from Congo’s neighbours Rwanda and Burundi and Congolese styles like Rumba, Seben, and Agwaya, and music from the streets and Congo’s nganda pubs. As a soloist and in bands, Emmanuela has toured internationally, appearing at venues and festivals, including South Bank’s Women of the World Festival, Shambala, Cropedy, MIF, Manchester Jazz Festival, and the Horizons Festival. Emmanuela has worked with bands, including the multi-award-winning Afro-Celt Sound System. A strand of her music now focuses on climate justice as land in Congo faces destruction, and African people are increasingly displaced due to the impacts of climate change.

“Force of Nature provided an opportunity for unheard voices about the climate crisis to be heard.”

Emmanuela Yogolelo 

Meduulla is an award-winning young Zimbabwean-born rapper, poet and DJ who uses a blend of jazz-inspired instrumentals and hip-hop. Meduulla has a growing profile in the UK’s rap scene. Meduulla was a finalist in BBC’s The Rap Game UK and appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Meduulla’s single, Mish Muulla was Track of the Week on BBC 1Xtra Radio. In 2023, Meduulla’s debut EP, Oblongata, is due for release.

“Force of Nature is important because it gives me an opportunity to use my art as a vessel for echoing important issues in the world.”

Meduulla

Sarah Yaseen, aka Sarah the Sufi, is an acclaimed British-born songwriter/composer of Kashmiri/Pakistani heritage and is the daughter of the internationally acclaimed Nasheed singer, Mohamed Yaseen. Sarah fronts the world-music ensemble Rafiki Jazz and regularly guests with Denmark’s all-women global ensemble Radiant Arcadia who sing in many genres, including Qwaali. She was a guest singer on the Electric Sufi Breathe in Love album with Professor Chill and Mina Salama. She has appeared at venues and festivals, including WOMAD and MIF. Some of Sarah’s recent work explores climate justice and empowers South Asian women to learn more about climate change and how it will impact Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

#ForceOfNature

#MIF23

Instagram

@emmanuelayogolelo

@meduulla

@sarahthesufi