Arrested Liberian act speaks out after release

He said it was necessary to speak out against the government using music following a scandalous incident concerning a missing “container of money”. The song, which got covered by international media including Reuters, was titled 'Bring Our Container Back'.

“We always let things to pass by,” Afo4Doe said in an interview with Frontpage Africa. “Money issues in our country can just die and no one can talk about it. This is not the first time that money is not accounted for. This time around we will talk about this issue but it will be recorded through music. Since we are musicians, we will talk about it through music and even if the government doesn’t give account, a record will be there.”

He, however, said he did not believe the money would be returned to the nation’s coffers.

“If you listen to the song it is with broken English. We don’t want to say, 'Bring our money back,' because we as artist believe that they have eaten that money ever since.

“So, we said to bring the container back because when we see the container, then we will believe that actual money was in it. Once the container is brought back, we will ask them for evidence. In the song, we put 40 feet instead of 40 foot so those who are uneducated can understand.”

Afo4Doe says the idea is not to carry out a physical demonstration against the authorities.

“We won’t go to streets to protest but rather use the song to educate and speak truth to our leaders. Music doesn’t die and in 20-30 years if another container goes missing, this song will be playing.”

The artist and producer also addressed the manner of his arrest, saying it was illegal. "I’m still trying to understand why I was arrested when I did nothing wrong. Kpanto and I, the other guy who raps on the song, were heading towards my house when the police assigned at resident’s house junction stopped our bike. We were stopped for what they claimed was a violation.

"I decided to appeal for his release and that’s how one of the police officers asked me to identify myself. I told him I’m a musician, the producer of the song about the alleged missing money. Kpanto was chased by officers but was not arrested but he had the phone that I recorded the saga on. The officers took the phone and deleted the recording I did.

“The first thing: they lied by saying the arrest was made in front of the president’s house when it was not. They arrested me at the president’s house junction, which is far away from the actual house.”