Liberian President George Weah is using his singing skills to belittle his political rivals in a reggae track titled “Talk Talk.â€
Weah, who is seeking re-election in the 10 October 2023 presidential polls, is using his music talent to appeal to music lovers across the nation of some five million people, with lyrics highlighting the progress his administration has achieved since 2018.
In the single 5-minute track, Weah refers to his main rivals Joseph Boakai of the main opposition Unity Party and Alexander Cummings of the Collaborating Political Parties as ‘Mr. B’ and ‘Mr. C’ who are bent on talking without impacting the country.
“Hear me now Mr. B and Mr. C, they never do nothing, all they do is just talk, talk and talk,†Weah says in the song.
The track has already been well-received by Liberians, especially his supporters, who believe that the track was done at the right time to alert voters on why Weah should be re-elected.
The tone lyrics in the song carry an underlying tone: Weah is alerting his followers not to pay attention to his rivals as they have no idea how to run the country or alleviate poverty.
“Attention, attention, where are my Rastafarians? Hear me now! The youth them are the real revolutionary, attention! Hear me now,†he says in the song.
The Liberian leader describes the decision by Boakai and Cummings to run for the presidency as a ‘mere bluff’.
The president partnered with local singers to produce the reggae song. Since coming to power in 2018, Weah has produced five different songs.
“They are coming again with their political jargons, they just talking what they don’t know. They are liar man, Mr. B and Mr. C…no matter what they say they [the youth] going to push us through,†he says in the song.
Weah constructed his own studio at the back of the Forky Klon Family Fellowship Church where he has partnered with several local musicians to produce a number of songs.
“All they talk about is political sanctions only to bring suffering to our people, ah Mr. B ah Mr. C…we have built their roads, free education for the youth, I am Rasta Man, they are liar men, ooh yeah,†he says in the song.
He says the developments ongoing in the country are a product of his leadership style and uses his song to accuse his rivals of inciting the youth to violence to disrupt the peace of the country.
“I know that our leader [George Weah], has produced five songs now, but this reggae song is a blast! I love it, the quality of the song is a master class and he put it right,†says Pokar Robert, a Weah loyalist.
The song is a wakeup call to those who want the highest seat of the land to help the government address constraints facing the country and not wait for elections before making promises, says Robert.
Unfit for the job
Moriah Kou Dwehde Yeakula, chief of staff to Liberian presidential candidate Cummins, says the song shows that Weah is inept for the country’s highest office.
The lawyer and political activist says that Weah has made running the country a secondary pursuit.
“President Weah spends his time in the studio making music, spends his time at Jamaica Resort, partying, spends his time out of the country; sometimes he goes for 48 days, it shows that he has no interest in the presidency,†she says.
Jamaica Resort, located in Thinkers Village community along the Roberts International Airport Highway outside Monrovia, is a private property belonging to President Weah. He often uses it for personal recreation and sometimes hosts cabinet meetings there.
He owned the property even before ascending to the presidency and has upgraded it to include another recording studio, which he named after his son Timothy Weah who plays for Juventus.
Lacks ideas
Weah’s latest song angers 47-year-old James Kesselly, who supports Boakai’s presidential bid.
“I hate listening to that song! That alone has justified why we should retire this man [Weah] on October 10, so that he can have time producing music,†he says in a rather angry tone.
He believes Weah should have dedicated his time to running the country, formulating policies to narrow down poverty, ensuring jobs are created and addressing the influx of illicit drugs coming into the country.
“It is shameful that the president has dedicated his time and energy working with local artists producing songs instead of focusing on the bread-and-butter issues,†he says.
Despite these criticisms, Weah supporters believe the president’s musical talent is playing an important role during these elections.
His collaboration with dozens of local artists and comedians on his campaign trail across the country is attracting a number of first-time voters.