During his visit to Local 47, Saava Karim was kind enough to perform his ngoma (the Swahili word for “drum”). Photo: Nate Herrera

Ugandan prince and musician activist Saava Karim Nsubuga visits the Hollywood musicians union to spread his message of peace and unity

by Linda A. Rapka

The Hollywood musicians union was paid a royal visit last month by Saava Karim Nsubuga, a prince from Uganda and professional musician who is an activist with the Uganda Musicians Union.

Wearing a handsome white and gold hand-stitched kazu, the traditional tunic worn by men in East Africa, and kufi hat and vest made of bark cloth elaborately decorated with jewels and shells, the saava (Swahili word for “prince”) met with Local 47 officers and Overture staff. In his work as membership mobilization secretary of the Uganda Musicians Union, established in 1998, Saava Karim said he is using his time in the United States to learn more about unionism and how he can help improve the quality of life for working musicians in Uganda.

“Performing musicians in Uganda are often marginalized,” he said. “We believe we can get together with people around the world who know how to organize so we can improve the lives of our musicians.”

Before departing he presented a surprise gift to his new musician friends: custom-printed T-shirts printed bearing the phrase “USA Musicians & Uganda Musicians” — with a picture of his ngoma emblazoned at the top.

Passionate about the idea that music can bring about social change, Saava Karim recently released a reggae song titled “Say No to Terrorism.” Inspired by the tragedy of losing his brother in a terrorist bomb attack during the 2010 World Cup finals in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, the song aims to inspire peace and love among all mankind.

“People all over the world are affected by terrorism,” Saava Karim said. “We need to help each other to help ourselves. I come from a royal family, and I can’t just sit back and do nothing. I’m also an artist, and know that music is an international language. It is a powerful language, one that can inspire change and bring about good in the world.”

Listen to “Say No to Terrorism” at bit.ly/saynototerrorism

‘Say No to Terrorism’
song & lyrics by Saava Karim Nsubuga

This is a message to all people in the world
Stop the killing, stop the terrorism,
we are tired, we love our lives
Killing innocent people, we all belong to one creator, one Almighty God

Why?
You kill your brothers,
you kill your sisters
You kill our fathers,
and you kill our mothers
You kill the children, you kill everyone You kill innocent people everywhere
You kill the children you, kill yourself Why? you kill pregnant women everywhere
You leave tears everywhere, everyday, Please please stop the killing, oh!

Chorus;
Everybody say no
[say no to terrorism in this world] Why do you kill innocent people, eh ya
[say no to terrorism in this world] We are leaving in this world of betrayal
[say no to terrorism in this world] We are leaving with rotten-hearted people
[say no terrorism in this world] Everybody say no no no
Say no to terrorism in this world

People are dying in America,
dying in Uganda
[‘Cause of you Mr. Terrorist] Dying in Kenya, dying in Somalia
[all of them are human beings] Arab brothers are dying
[a lot of blood is being shed] We are sisters and brothers
[same red blood color] We need to love each other, we need to be together, we need to work together and solve our problems
We need to love each other, we need to be together, we need to work together and solve our problems

If God created us in his image
That means we are all his children
If Jah created us in his image
That means we are all brothers and sisters
No matter you are from Jamaica [one love] Yemen Israel and Libya [one blood] Elders from Africa [one love] America Canada Rwanda [one blood] My sisters from Denmark [one love] Russia, Tanzania, South Africa [one blood] My Chief Igwe from Nigeria [one love] Cairo and South Sudan [one blood]

I plead to all people in the world please Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight terrorism