Johannesburg, 30 January 2020 – Lagos-based musician Chioma “Cill” Ogbonna has won the 2019 Accountability Music Awards, winning the most votes among the finalists who represent the best of socially-conscious music from across the African continent. 

The 2019 Accountability Music Awards (AMAs) is a collaboration between Accountability Lab, the ONE Campaign and Trace Africa, that seeks to celebrate African musicians who use their voices to call for more transparency and accountability across the continent. Viewers learned about the campaign on Trace Naija, Trace Urban and Trace Africa and thousands voted for their favourite song focused on accountability, transparency and the fight against corruption..

Cill, whose music incorporates elements of soul, alternative rock, folk, and country music, with splashes of “Africanness”, earned the most votes in the campaign. Her song ‘All You’ve Got’ talks about social and political reform in Nigeria and encourages citizens to take an active role in pushing for change.

Fellow Nigerian and hip-hop legend Falz, real name Folarin Falana, came a close second with his song ‘Talk’ which challenges the promises of security and economic prosperity offered by Nigerian policy-makers, while the country faces austerity measures and threats from Boko Haram. Kenyan afro-pop group Sauti Sol, Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara, and Zimbabwean dancehall artist Platinum Prince were also among the nominees.

African citizens consistently place corruption amongst their top concerns, and report having lost faith in many key institutions, including legislatures, police, courts, and national electoral commissions. The most recent Corruption Perceptions Index, launched by Transparency International last week, ranked Sub-Saharan Africa as the lowest scoring world region with 32 out of 100 points, less than the global average of 43. Western Europe and the EU was the highest scoring region, ranked at 66.

The AMAs recognize that music is an essential way for citizens to raise their voices about these issues. The competition also supports the idea that communities should be an integral part of local and national anti-corruption reforms and that public engagement campaigns are successful vehicles for encouraging such collaboration. It attempts to elevate the profile of musicians shining a light on injustice and lapses in accountability on the continent and also bring awareness to the effects that corruption has on our communities.

Executive Director of Accountability Lab, Blair Glencorse, said the AMAs, run for the 1st time in 2019, are an exciting way to begin to shift norms: “These artists are using their voices to engage citizens around critical challenges in their societies. The more we can do to celebrate and lift them up, the more we can begin to popularize their messages and shift understandings of the problems”. 

ONE in Africa Interim Executive Director, Edwin Ikhoria said: “Corruption is a major obstacle to Africa’s growth and development, and contributes to high levels of poverty and instability on the continent. We congratulate Cill and other courageous musicians who use their voices to bring about positive change in our communities, particularly in the fight against corruption.”

About Accountability Lab

The Accountability Lab makes governance work for people everywhere by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions. We are reimagining how to build accountability to support a world in which resources are used wisely, decisions benefit everyone fairly, and people lead secure lives. 

About ONE

ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. ONE believes the fight against poverty isn’t about charity, but about justice and equality. Whether lobbying political leaders in world capitals or running cutting-edge grassroots campaigns, ONE pressures governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, and empowers citizens to hold their governments to account.

For more information, contact:

Global Communications Director – Accountability Lab

[email protected]

Influcencer Engagement Manager – ONE

[email protected]