Music Library
Explore our collection of songs that champion human rights, equality, and justice.
Arrested Development - Tennessee
✨ A reflection on history, identity, memory, and the search for belonging in a society shaped by inequality. “Tennessee” by Arrested Development is a deeply personal song about heritage, spirituality, family, and confronting the painful realities of history. Released in 1992, the song combines hip-hop with elements of folk, gospel, and African musical influences to explore questions of identity and connection, particularly within the African American experience.
Bob Marley - Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
✨ A powerful warning about inequality, hunger, and the consequences of ignoring people’s basic needs. “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)” by Bob Marley and The Wailers is a socially conscious reggae song about poverty, inequality, and the frustrations of communities living without economic security. Released in 1974, the song reflects Marley’s deep concern for social injustice and the ways political and economic systems can leave people without access to basic necessities.
Peter Grabiel - Biko
✨ A powerful tribute to courage, resistance, and the enduring struggle against racial oppression. “Biko” by Peter Gabriel is a haunting tribute to Steve Biko, one of the most influential figures in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Released in 1980, the song brought international attention to Biko’s life, his ideas, and the brutality of the apartheid system that led to his death in police custody in 1977.
The Clash - Know Your Rights
✨ A sharp and rebellious reminder that rights mean little if people do not know, claim, and defend them. “Know Your Rights” by The Clash is a satirical protest song that challenges the gap between the language of rights and the reality of how power operates. Released in 1982, the song presents itself as a formal announcement of people’s freedoms, but quickly reveals the hypocrisy, inequality, and limitations that often surround those promises.
MILCK - We Won't Go Back
✨ A declaration of resistance against the rollback of reproductive freedom and a call to defend bodily autonomy. “We Won’t Go Back” by MILCK is a protest anthem created in response to the growing threat to reproductive rights in the United States following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional protections established by Roe v. Wade. The song captures the fear, anger, and determination of millions of people who saw decades of reproductive-rights protections being placed at risk.
Reina del Cid - My Country, ’Tis of Thee
✨ A reimagining of patriotism, freedom, and the unfinished struggle for equality. “My Country, ’Tis of Thee (Land of Inequity)” by Reina del Cid transforms a familiar American patriotic song into a powerful reflection on inequality, bodily autonomy, and the gap between national ideals and lived realities. By rewriting the historic melody of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” Reina del Cid uses a symbol of national pride to question whether freedom and justice are truly experienced equally by everyone.
Holly Near - Mountain Song/Kentucky Woman
✨ A song of resistance, land, labour, and the determination of communities to defend their homes and dignity. “Mountain Song/Kentucky Woman” by Holly Near is a powerful folk protest song that connects environmental justice, women’s voices, workers’ rights, and struggles over land. Through the story of an Appalachian woman confronting powerful economic interests, the song explores what happens when communities are forced to defend the places, livelihoods, and identities that sustain them.
ChocQuibTown - Lindo Cielo
✨ A celebration of beauty, identity, and the strength of communities often overlooked. “Lindo Cielo” (“Beautiful Sky”) by ChocQuibTown is a heartfelt tribute to the landscapes, cultures, and people of Colombia’s Pacific region. Through their unique blend of hip-hop, Afro-Colombian rhythms, and traditional sounds, ChocQuibTown celebrate their roots while drawing attention to the importance of recognising and valuing communities that have historically faced marginalisation.
Fela Kuti - Beast of No Nation
✨ A fierce condemnation of authoritarianism, corruption, and the abuse of power. “Beast of No Nation” by Fela Kuti is a powerful Afrobeat protest song that challenges political oppression, state violence, and the failures of governments and international institutions to protect human dignity. Released in 1989, the song reflects Fela’s lifelong struggle against corruption, military rule, and the misuse of power in Nigeria and beyond.
Miriam Makeba - A Piece of Ground
✨ A fierce declaration that human rights are not gifts from those in power — they belong to everyone. “A Piece of Ground” by Fela Kuti is a powerful political statement challenging the way human rights are defined, distributed, and discussed by governments and international institutions. Released after Fela’s imprisonment on what many considered politically motivated charges, the song reflects his deep frustration with oppression, corruption, colonial legacies, and the failure of powerful actors to respect the dignity and rights of African people.
Flobots - No Handlebars
✨ A powerful reminder that human rights are interconnected, indivisible, and essential to everyone’s freedom. “No Handlebars” by Flobots is a thought-provoking song about power, possibility, inequality, and the responsibilities that come with human potential.
Isley Brothers - Harvest for the World
✨ A powerful call for solidarity, equality, and a world where everyone can share in humanity’s abundance. “Harvest for the World” by The Isley Brothers is a moving reflection on hunger, inequality, and the moral responsibility to ensure that the world’s resources are shared more fairly. Released in 1976, the song questioned why so many people experience poverty and deprivation in a world capable of producing enough for everyone.