Soundtrack of the State: Musicians Headline São Tomé Elections
In a year of high-stakes politics for São Tomé and Príncipe, the loudest voices on the campaign trail aren’t always the candidates. Instead, a wave of national musicians who have emigrated to Portugal is being “imported” back home to provide the soundtrack for Sunday’s general elections.
From the beds of flatbed trucks serving as makeshift stages to rain-soaked town squares, dozens of artists are headlining rallies across the archipelago. For these musicians, the election cycle offers a rare “improvised tour” that provides both a paycheck and a powerful reconnection with their roots.
A Practical Homecoming
The practice of hiring musical talent to “warm up” political crowds is a long-standing tradition in São Tomé, but there has been a notable shift this year. Political parties have largely abandoned hiring foreign stars, opting instead to bring back home-grown talent from the diaspora in Lisbon. With presidential elections held in July and legislative, local, and regional elections set for this weekend, the demand for entertainment has never been higher.
For 41-year-old Leo Boca Copa, the stage is a place to reflect the realities of the people. Performing in São João de Colares, he opened his set with a song about the hardships of life abroad. “I sing directly to my mother,” he says. “I tell her that I went in search of a better life and it wasn’t what I imagined I would find. But I tell her I’m not returning empty-handed.” It is a message that strikes a chord with the country’s youth, who have emigrated to Portugal in record numbers in recent years.
“We Belong to the People, Not Politics”
Despite the high visibility of performing at partisan rallies, the artists remain remarkably pragmatic about their presence. Most dismiss the idea that they are being politically pigeonholed or used as puppets.
“In my case, I work with whoever offers the best job, the best fee,” explains Boca Copa, who has spent five of his twenty-year career performing in various campaigns. “We belong to the people, not to politics. Our goal here is to earn money. It’s the time when we can actually make something.”
Bruna Lee, a 40-year-old artist also based in Portugal, agrees. Standing by a truck adorned with Independent Democratic Action (ADI) banners, she notes that the cultural market in São Tomé is often too small to support professional artists year-round. “It’s an opportunity to take advantage… to show the Bruna Lee that the people built,” she says. “It’s a closed contract, but whenever I can participate, I will.”
Building a Brand
For younger artists like 32-year-old Babilónia, the campaign trail is as much about digital marketing as it is about live performance. Having moved to Portugal in 2022, he is using his return to film music videos and generate content for his TikTok and Instagram followers.
“I do my job as a professional and that’s it,” Babilónia says while greeting fans in the Lobata district. “I don’t get involved in politics. I really don’t.”
Whether they are performing for the MLSTP or the ADI, the sentiment among the “imported” musicians is the same: the elections are a vital lifeline for the country’s arts scene. For a few weeks every few years, the political machinery provides the budget, the audience, and the plane ticket home, allowing these artists to bridge the gap between their lives in Europe and the fans they left behind.
Image: Pexels – Tope J. Asokere
