‘INTEGRITY IS EXPENSIVE’ NVIIRI THE STORYTELLER SLAMS ARTISTS ALIGNING WITH NEO-COLONIAL POWERS

Kenyan singer and songwriter Nviiri The Storyteller has critique of African artists who align themselves with governments and systems he says continue to exploit the continent through neo-colonial influence.

In a statement shared online, the musician urged fellow creatives to prioritise the welfare of ordinary people over political connections, warning against becoming what he called “decoration for power.” He stated that principles and integrity must outweigh access and proximity to power.

“There’s a dangerous trend of artists mistaking proximity to power for impact,” Nviiri said. “As Africans, we cannot continuously speak about culture, liberation and community then comfortably sit at tables with governments whose histories on this continent are rooted in exploitation, extraction and control.”

He specifically challenged the notion that France should be embraced under the banner of Pan-Africanism, arguing that the ideology was built on resistance against colonialism not on alliances with former colonial powers. “France does not get to suddenly call itself ‘Pan-African,’” he stated. “Pan-Africanism was born from resistance against colonialism not from the same powers that benefited from it.”

The artist drew attention to ongoing struggles across West Africa, where communities are actively resisting French influence and neo-colonial control. He described the spectacle of African celebrities rolling out red carpets and celebrating with representatives of those same systems as deeply disconnected from the spirit of African solidarity.

“A friend to my enemy automatically becomes my enemy,” Nviiri said. “We cannot claim to stand for African liberation while entertaining the very systems many Africans are actively fighting to free themselves from.“

He also pointed out a perceived double standard in how artists are judged. Speaking out against harmful local issues like alcoholism and exploitative brand culture was once ridiculed as “doing too much,” he noted. Yet now, smiling and breaking bread with figures like French President Emmanuel Macron is celebrated as growth, diplomacy, or representation. “So what exactly do you stand for when the cameras are off?” he asked.

Nviiri declared that he will continue striving to be a community artist above all else. “An artist for the people. An artist with principles. An artist whose voice cannot be bought by access, proximity or power,” he wrote. “Because integrity is expensive. And not everybody can afford it.”