premiere: southern blues artist and activist rev. sekou gives voice to the unheard in powerful protest anthem “burnin’ and lootin'”

To draw inspiration for his debut album In Times Like These, noted activist, author, documentary filmmaker and theologian Rev. Osagyefo Sekou traveled back to his Southern home in search of his family’s musical roots in the deep Arkansas blues and gospel traditions. Produced by six-time Grammy nominated Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, In Times Like These is “drenched with the sweat and tears of the Mississippi River” and powerful messages that could change the landscape of southern blues.

The album’s opening song, “Resist,” begins with a rousing speech given by Rev. Sekou at a rally in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of Michael Brown. Upon hearing about Brown’s death, Sekou immediately returned to his hometown of St. Louis, taking to the streets in a series of protests that led to his arrest on multiple occasions.

His latest single, “Burnin’ and Lootin’”, is no less political and important. “MLK noted that ‘Riots are the language of the unheard,’” Sekou explains about the track. “While we bemoan the destruction of property, our hearts must be broken by the condition that lead to property damage. Bob Marley’s classic infused with the Arkansas Delta Blues, Sacred Steel, and Memphis soul is my attempt to capture the sounds of a burning democracy”

Take a listen to the powerful song below!:

*Hari Ziyad is a New York based storyteller and writer for AFROPUNK. They are also the editor-in-chief of RaceBaitR, deputy editor of Black Youth Project, and assistant editor of Vinyl Poetry & Prose. You can follow them on Twitter @hariziyad.

Follow Rev. Sekou: Soundcloud