In response to the global rise in human rights violations, particularly those targeting the LGBTQ+ community, Namibian–German-based artist Shishani Vranckx has released a new song, ‘Forget To Remember’.
The track, accompanied by a compelling music video filmed in both Namibia and the Netherlands, features human rights’ activists from around the world, emphasising the urgent need for solidarity and unity.
Shishani expressed deep concern over the pervasive dehumanisation that underlies discrimination and violence.
“We have seen this dehumanising happening during colonialism, apartheid, the Holocaust, and the current genocides and starvation taking place. LGBTQ+ people also have been under attack for centuries. It’s painful how people fail to see that any form of oppression is still oppression, and cannot be justified under any circumstance,” she said.
Shishani’s song is a poignant reminder that the fight for human rights is far from over. In many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face persecution, violence and legal discrimination.
In her song, she is sending a message of unity in diversity to encompass all people, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
“If we say unity in diversity, this means for all people including LGBTQ+ people,” she emphasised.
Her concern is the way people dehumanise others, which leads to discrimination and even death.
“These issues affect me directly, being a queer Namibian. I have lost a dear friend to hate crime in Windhoek. The
murders happening around the country are showing that hate speech and the proposal of an anti-gay bill is inciting the killing of our siblings our colleagues, our friends, our neighbours and our family members. Namibia generally has a problem with violence, especially towards women, girls and LGBTQ+ persons. As a country, we are yet to tackle this form of toxic masculinity, which is a nationwide issue. I believe a lot of this violence comes from psychological wounds from our colonial past that we’ve not been able to heal,” she said.
She further said, ‘Forget To Remember’ will inspire listeners to reflect on the importance of empathy and solidarity in the fight against oppression.
Her music calls on people everywhere to stand up for the rights of the marginalised, and to recognise the shared humanity that connects everyone.
“The main message is ‘It is all of us’, we are all in this life together, and we all deserve safety, dignity and a right to live in peace. I hope the song helps create a dialogue on valuing human life. I hope it inspires us to question ourselves in why we allow violence towards certain people, and how we morally want to justify that. From any point of belief, violence and murder are not condoned. I hope we can look beyond what and who we know, and find the willingness to see and respect another person for who they are. Nature is diverse, and so are human beings. The fact that LGBTIQ+ persons are demonised is part of the colonial project. We have always existed throughout history, around the world,” she ended.
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