Essays of a Revolutionary MC: Skoll World Forum

April,

You brought far more joy than anticipated!

This Aries season ushered in several springs in my life, filling me with renewed passion and energy for my music activism work. First and foremost, April reunited me with the Obama Foundation family. We convened at the Skoll World Forum, a world-class gathering connecting philanthropists, changemakers, social entrepreneurs, and innovators to foster partnerships and drive systemic change. Immersing myself fully in the activities was not only deeply moving but also overwhelmingly inspiring in the best possible way—a sentiment echoed by many first-time attendees. What a beautiful space Jeff Skoll has created.

I attended as a democracy activist and left equally as a climate activist. I was introduced to Project Dandelion, a global, women-led campaign for climate justice, which garnered widespread support from forum attendees. Over 700 forum attendees closed out the week wearing Dandelion pins and embracing the movement's commitment to building a climate-safe world. I joined them because, as Elizabeth Sheehan MPH put it, the campaign needs a few great male allies.

A fellow Obama Leader also introduced me to “Stop the East African Crude Oil Pipeline” - StopEACOP. Through this campaign, they are striving to halt the French oil giant Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, who are on the brink of constructing a massive crude oil pipeline right through the heart of Africa—displacing communities, endangering wildlife, and pushing the world closer to full-blown climate catastrophe. For Uganda, this oil money will end up in the chambers of Museveni’s dictatorship, enabling him to arm his arsenal with tear gas and bullets to continue tormenting innocent Ugandans, especially those in the opposition. The fight for climate justice is equally a fight for democracy.

Also in April, China’s President Xi Jinping showed his full support for the East African Crude Export Pipeline through Uganda’s Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. I am thrilled to be welcoming back Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the Peoples’ President at this year’s Copenhagen Democracy Summit on May 14 - 15. Bobi Wine is leading our fight for freedom and democracy. The People Power movement has reignited hope for a new and free Uganda. Our fight for democracy is equally a fight for climate justice.

Currently, I'm engrossed in reading "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson, a gift from one of the Obama Leaders during our book exchange activity. I have gleaned invaluable insights from the book, but I will leave you with this quote rooted in the Leopoldian land ethic: “what’s good is what’s good for the land.” I departed the Skoll World Forum with renewed zeal and determination to continue the fight.

I was also in Yerevan, Armenia, however, I will save that story for a future edition. Below is my May calendar📅.

I commit to sending only one email per month where I will share something about my music, life in Denmark, or about Uganda. If you enjoyed reading, don’t hesitate to follow up and/or share with a friend.

As you step into the next month, may the force be with you.