Music is life. Disability is not inability. Did you just sing that? It’s allowed. What other better way to preach inclusion than music, artists, and their labels. Have you met these artists who have stood out on matter inclusion? Breaking the notion.
Denno the Kenyan gospel artist who sang ‘story yangu’ and mbona. Crystal Asige was signed by Sauti Sol after working with them showering Kenyans with hits despite her blindness. Inclusivity is power.
Meet Lachi based in Minnesota the founder and President of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities(RAMPD), the new Disability advocacy group of the music industry.RAMPD is a growing coalition dedicated to making Disability inclusion and accesses a reality in the mainstream music industry.
Lachi was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta; an inherited bone disorder that is present at birth. It is also known as brittle bone disease. A child born with OI may have soft bones that break easily
RAMPD – Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities plans to push for accessibility in the music industry, including adding visible ramps to awards show stages, advising the American Signs language interpretation, captioning and audio description to be added as part of inclusivity.
Lachi who is an award-winning music writer through RAMPD and the co-founder Gaelyn Loa and others works to break the stigma around disability culture and advocate accessibility.
Molly Joyce will be performing on the 3rd of April on the rescheduled Grammy awards as RAMPD push the inclusivity by including ramps for those artists amongst the PWDs.
Lachi has driven inclusivity to another level having fought the battle to have PWDs included on the screen and in the music industry performance.
Amongst the many fighting for inclusivity in Kenya, Daddy Owen who is the founder of Malaika Tribute Awards which is aimed at celebrating people with disabilities and recognizing the work of people who have contributed to making their lives better. The award-winning singer is among the few artists, who are still relevant in the flooded industry.
Ignatius Ogeto famously known as DJ Euphories was born with the ability to walk but at one stage in his life, he developed some complications that left him wheelchair-bound.
DJ Wiwa, Signs TV playlist show host, is also among the few women who are out to ensure that they are not held down by the condition of what they live in every day.
Share with us that hero you know in your area that fights for inclusivity for all and at all times.
BY EMMANUEL OWINO