Politically conscious Black artists have always gone beyond the pursuit of fame and fortune to align themselves with the struggles of their people for liberation from imperialism. Renowned Congolese guitarist, composer and singer, Nicolas Kasanda wa Mikalayi, popularly known as Doctor Nico, was a keen supporter of D.R. Congo’s first democratically elected leader and eminent African statesman Patrice Lumumba.
Singers and players of instruments have stepped up to the plate to support political leaders.
This has occurred in North America, the Caribbean and Mother Africa. John Coltrane supported El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X) in the sixties. Bob Marley of Jamaica supported Walter Rodney of Guyana in the seventies and Fela Anikulapo Kuti of Nigeria supported Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso in the eighties. All of these figures have supported the liberation of Africa, Africans and all oppressed people.
Before this period “Dr. Nico” (Nicolas Kasanda wa Mikalay) supported Patrice Emery Lumumba, the first democratically elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the age of 36. Nico Kasanda was a giant in rumba music. He was a guitarist, composer and one of the pioneers of the genre.