Essays of a Revolutionary MC: Oslo Freedom Forum

I'm heading off to Quito, Ecuador, to take some time off with my better half, Tonje. Until recently, I had never visited Tonje’s home country, Norway. As an African living in northern Europe, there aren't many reasons to travel further north, except perhaps to see the northern lights. However, this month was different. I started June by attending the Human Rights Foundation’s Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) for the first time. What an incredible space HRF has created.

For those unfamiliar with the forum, each year, OFF amplifies the voices of dissidents and highlights the most pressing human rights issues. This year’s theme was reclaiming democracy. I spent three days listening to and mingling with the bravest freedom and democracy activists, fueled by many cups of coffee and little sleep. Each day started with a rush of adrenaline, not knowing which stories of courage and lasting connections awaited in the hallways of the Oslo Concert House.

One powerful story came from Olga González, an activist from Venezuela. Her husband was murdered by the Maduro regime in 2017 for peacefully protesting. She asked, "How many bullets does it take to achieve justice?" My friend Faisal Saeed Al Mutal, Founder and President of Ideas Beyond Borders, reminded us that "you cannot bomb democracy and freedom into countries." As a freedom fighter from Uganda, I was heartened to see several Ugandans both on and off stage, reminding me that I am not alone in the fight for a free and just Uganda and world.

Thor Halvorssen, the CEO of HRF, captured the spirit of the event in his opening remarks by saying, "the event is not the pain olympics. We can find joy and laughter in the darkness. And we must." We danced to the sounds of Carlos Vives, laughed, and forged lasting connections amid the backdrop of gross human rights violations and democracy decline worldwide.

A highlight of the forum was hearing Jack Dorsey describe the free speech debate as a “distraction.” He argued that the real debate should be about "free will," highlighting how we are being programmed based on our interactions. “As we engage and interact with the content, the algorithm continues to build more and more of this bias,” he said. OFF was incredibly inspiring and filled me with joy, while leaving me with a lot to think about regarding the future of blockchain technology and Bitcoin as the currency for freedom. I can’t wait to return in the coming years.

On the music front, as part of the global World Music Day celebrations, I shared the stage with my good friend Enie for the first time. We performed our collaboration "Power to the People II" at Block Fest last Friday at Blågspalds in Copenhagen. "Power to the People II" is a powerful anthem that captures the spirit of a nation yearning for change. With a resonant chorus sung by Enie, the song emphasizes giving power back to the people while addressing pressing social and political issues in Uganda. The lyrics call out to Museveni, urging him to listen to the collective voice of the masses and consider a peaceful transition of power.

Look out for Power to the People I, off my coming album, Essays of a Revolutionary MC. Many thanks for reading and eventual listening. 

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