Songs to fight corruption to: CPI 2020 playlist

Nothing unites people like good music and a common cause.

Every year, we release the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) which ranks countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts. While this is an important global tool that creates a space to discuss corruption and find solutions to it, and index does not offer us insights into the human or environmental costs of corruption.

Music and other cultural products on the other hand, reflect people’s attitudes towards and experiences of corruption and other social issues. Music can drive a cause and give voice to frustrations and aspirations of people.

Earlier this year, when Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono posted a free-style song that criticises state corruption on Twitter, it proved that movements have much to gain from the power of music. The track, called “Dem Loot”, went instantly viral in Zimbabwe and beyond, with others posting their own renditions of the anti-corruption tune.

From Malawi to South Korea, our own anti-corruption music competition, Fair Play, has also given musicians who campaign for social justice and anti-corruption in their country an opportunity to have their voices heard and connect with a global audience.

This year, we set ourselves the task of finding music from every country ranked on the 2020 CPI – and we found some great ones! So, we put together a playlist of one song that we enjoyed from (almost) each country, in the order of the 2020 CPI ranking. The only rule we followed was that the song had to be released in 2020. The playlist that we ended up with is vibrant, diverse and genre-bending. You will hear songs from artists you know and love, and others from artists you ought to know and love – such as the indigenous artist from Brazil singing about how indigenous communities of the Amazon protect forests on the song Guerreiro da Floresta (Forest Warrior). Some Fair Play music winners are also on the playlist.

Here’s five songs as a feeler of what to expect:

2020 CPI score: 88/100

Listen: Til Banken by Natasja, Tessa & Karen Mukupa

Although Natasja – the Danish rapper and singer shining on this track – died tragically back in 2007, this new posthumous single released in 2020 shows off her immense talent and flow. Natasja, Tessa and Karen Mukupa sing about standing united and cleaning up the male-dominated music industry on this groovy, reggae-fusion song.

2020 CPI score: 47/100

Listen: Іншымі (Different) by NAVIBAND

NaviBand represented Belarus at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest and became the first ever artists to sing in Belarusian at the platform. Their song Different became one of the symbols of protest by the people of Belarus against the regime of Lukashenko in 2020. With the song’s lyrics going, “Smoke in our eyes, we don’t see any dreams / We will wake up different somewhere in the deep,” it’s not hard to see why the people of Belarus found comfort in the song.

2020 CPI score: 42/100

Listen: Xiao Juan by Tan Weiwei

On Xiao Juan, Tan Weiwei calls out domestic and misogynistic violence faced by women in China. Xiao Juan – the Chinese equivalent of Jane Doe - is the name given to female victims of violent crimes in China. The song cries out: "Our names are not Xiao Juan… Know my name, and remember it.” Tan’s heart-wrenching song is even more impressive and memorable given that violence against women remains a taboo topic in the country.

2020 CPI score: 38/100

Listen: Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón by Susana Baca

This song has Susana Baca performing a beautiful Acapella cover of the song Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón (I come to offer my heart), originally by Argentine musician Fito Páez. Baca is an essential voice in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music. She also served as the Minister of Culture of Peru in 2011.

2020 CPI score: 16/100 (Sudan) / 67/100 (US)

Listen: umbrellar by Dua Saleh

Dua Saleh’s genre-defying umbrellar is what we hope music sounds like in the future. The queer Sudanese-American artist, musician and actor who burst onto the music scene in 2018 shines on this dreamy song.

Listen to the full playlist with over a 100 songs here: Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 Playlist

Is your country missing a song? Which song from your country would you have included? Let us know on Twitter at @anticorruption with #CPI2020!

See the full list of the songs we selected from each country here: