Aïcha Koné: Charity Begins at Home

Aïcha says she has no regrets supporting Gbagbo

It was interesting how Ivorian songstress Aïcha Koné recently wowed Liberian women with peace messages conveyed through her songs. The Ivorian musical icon was in Liberia on a peace mission, organizers of the March 2 to 3 peace concert said. They insisted that Aïcha Koné had come to unite Liberian women through her songs. And for this, she must be commended. She must be commended for a universal language that penetrates almost every part of our lives:  our rest, our entertainment, our education, and our worship, to inspire cross-cultural unity among Liberian women.

But what really puzzled many in the public about the peace concert headlined by Aïcha Koné in Liberia was the fact that “she continues to shy away from doing the same thing in her native Cote d’Ivoire where women continue to remain at each other’s throats as it relates to politics in that country.”

“When the Ivorian turmoil hit its peak, Aïcha Koné, along some artists, publicly declared their loyalty to a prime party to that conflict. At that moment, these artists were no longer interested in using their songs to unite their country. They instead began to use the influence of their personalities and their music as dividers and peace spoilers. The double-edged nature of such influence – [if used positively, unites people across cultures and traditions; but when abused, tears up society very easily] – was exploited by these artists to pledge their political allegiance to ousted Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo,” an interviewee said.

Well, we still acknowledge Aïcha’s peace mission to Liberia earlier this month. It was enough to send a message that this woman is now ready to ensure that peace reigns in the region. However, we think it would be fantastic were she to also kick off that initiative in her homeland where women – and Ivorian society at large – are still deeply divided along political, ethnic and religious lines.

While the guns remain silent in Cote d’Ivoire, that country – much like Liberia – is still a few steps away from much-needed reconciliation. And this is why we think Aïcha would make her mark were she to direct her ‘preaching peace through songs’ initiative to the women of Cote d’Ivoire as did the women of Liberia.

When the Liberian civil war reached its peak, the women of Liberia began ganging up to take on the warlords in the spirit of dialogue and negotiation. For the women of Liberia by then, ‘enough’ was just ‘too enough.’

And when their advocacies began birthing peace in their homeland, the Liberian women decided to expand their network to other troubled sub-regional countries also in dire need at that point, of similar help. Basically, the point we are trying to drive home here is that the process needs to begin at home. You can’t be seen to be the nicest person in the eyes of outsiders when, in fact, you are mean to those closer to you. 

And it doesn't matter what we were yesterday as long we are prepared to make a good faith’ turn around when that time comes. Is Aïcha ready to make that change in her life at the moment? She is currently in self-imposed exile, residing in Guinea.  She said in an October 10, 2012, interview with Afrique Actualité news agency, that she chose to reside in Guinea because she needed a break. She said even if Ouattara attempted to call her back, she would simply tell him that she had not been chased out by him.

Aïcha was a staunch support of ousted president Gbagbo

“I have never hidden my support for Gbagbo, everybody knows it. I have no regrets for that too. I shall return at the point at which I have decided to do so. The way Gbagbo left was rather difficult to bear. The environment for me was not conducive any more. I was not directly threatened. I decided all the same, to leave the country as I had begun to feel depressed after the arrest of Gbagbo. It was difficult,” she told Afrique Actualité.

Aïcha, in fact, considers herself a party to the Ivorian conflict because of her loyalty to Gbagbo. An individual cannot be a true peace-promoter when she or he is caught up in narrow, or limited and personal concerns. One needs to be at peace with oneself and others to better lead the charge against disunity. Maybe Aicha is not prepared at this time, to do what some believe she has a responsibility to do.  And, indeed, the timing might be all wrong; however that is no reason why some of us should kick against the pricks, hoping that things were different.
 

Must do the Homework at Home

Back on the Liberian front, we wonder what was the real position of the organizers of aforementioned “peace concert”, in retrospect of Aicha’s recent political choices.  When organizing such an event, it is usually important for the organizers to carefully select a “keynote figure” that has exemplified the intended ideals of the concert, in this case, peace.  Otherwise, the effect of the concert might end up as a diluted, “lip-service” version of what was originally intended, and nothing more than a commercial activity staged by Aicha’s fellow tribeswomen on this side of the border.  Is that what it is? 

So this is a lesson not only for Aïcha Koné, but for the women who organized the concert as well.  Ladies, if you want to promote peace, you have to really think about the various implications of the key choices you make, when organizing a program.  Not just the headlining artist or keynote speaker, but even the venue, date and target audience must be coherent with the actual theme of your event.  YOU MUST MAKE IT RELEVANT.  Otherwise, your organization might simply be reduced to a mere social club with some expendable cash to do something fun.  And with that, sisters, your group won’t be taken very seriously beyond your close friends and respective family members.

Window of Redemption

In life, for every good intention, there is a slippery point; and for every ‘not-so-good’ intention, there is a window for redemption.  And this could have been a major turning point in the affair. Let’s say that the organizers, really wanting to put on this “peace concert”, actually thought about Aïcha Koné’s political proclivities and still decided to invite her for the show.  Suppose they said, “Look ladies, granted, the woman took a side in the Ivorian conflict; let’s still invite her – and maybe others like her – to dialogue about our various experiences in times of conflict. Maybe through this time of sharing, we can see a way forward in solidarity with Ivorian women, encouraging them play a more active role in peace building, as we have been doing in Liberia.  Who knows? Maybe this can be a window of redemption for our sister Aicha, empowering her to make attempts to reconcile with those she opposed in the past.  And just maybe, this activity could ignite transformation for all of us because our goal is the same.” 

Well, we hope the thought process of the organizers was along these lines – or at least in the general vicinity.  This window of redemption is so crucial, on both sides of the table, the aisle, the border, that missing it is like waiting for reincarnation.  The next time may never have the same opportunities.  Perhaps, with the concert, the conversation has begun.  Let’s see what our sisters will follow it up with.  Indeed, charity begins at home.  And we must do our homework in order to see our windows of redemption.