Music lends voice against gender inequality

Music has always been the voice of the people; be it underground independent artistes talking about taboo issues to renowned names like John Lennon, U2, Michael Jackson and Bob Geldof using their music to raise awareness for global causes. The power of music has the ability to rally people, uniting them to stand up for what’s right.

Celebrating this right to freedom of creative expression, the Sounds of Freedom (SOF) Concert organised a day-long concert, aimed at the youth and giving renowned artistes, as well as scores of young musicians and audiences, a platform to ‘Be the Voice’ and share ideas on social inclusion. ‘Sounds of Freedom’ celebrated the right to freedom of creative expression, a theme celebrated across the world through various festivals and events, including the recently-concluded Zee Jaipur Literature Festival. The event provided the youth a platform for engaging in dialogue and a chance to createawareness about equality amongst genders.

On the lines of last year’s concert, which hosted an incredible line-up of musicians like Kailash Kher, Bob Geldof, Vikku Vinayak Ram among others, the 2015 edition, held at Amity University, Noida, focussed on freedom of creative expression with Indie groups showcasing a combination of unusual and popular music.

UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia and founder of the MARD (Men against Rape & Discrimination) Campaign, Farhan Akthar, along with his band Farhan LIVE was the star attraction at the 2015 SOF Concert. The line-up at tis year’s edition included The Raghu Dixit Project performing their unique brand of infectious, happy music to propagate the idea of ‘freedom to be’; MadBoy/Mink with their electric live sets featured songs on observations about life; Tritha  powerfully reflected on women empowerment; folk musicians of The Kutle Khan Project and the all-women folk group, Dindigul Sakthi Drummers. The SOF Concert also featured performances of Vocal Rasta, a cappella troupe from The Yuva Ekta Foundation and Teamwork Arts, as well as winners of the SOF Battle Zone, a college contest for young musicians to showcase their ideas.

This year, SOF teamed up with UN Women to highlight the issues of gender equality and women empowerment, enlisting supporters for the ‘HeForShe’ campaign. 

Dr Rebecca Reichmann Tavares, UN Women’s Representative for India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka said, “UN Women is delighted to partner with the Sounds of Freedom, a unique and innovative platform that brings together some of the world’s most renowned artistes to mobilise the youth on important social issues through music, art and poetry. It is our privilege that SOF 2015 will focus on UN Women’s ‘HeforShe’ campaign, a global solidarity movement that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other.

Though the struggle ‘for women by women’ remains central to our agenda, the campaign is a radical departure from that standpoint and engages men and boys as agents of change in achieving gender equality. The support of young people is crucial in taking this agenda forward.”