Music as cultural response to food insecurity in West and Central Africa

Food insecurity in West and Central Africa remains both a humanitarian and socio-political issue. This study explores how music functions as a socio-cultural response to the persistent issue of food insecurity in West and Central Africa. It investigates how musical expressions reflect experiences of hunger, foster communal resilience, and amplify advocacy efforts. Situated within ethnomusicology and cultural studies, the research addresses a critical gap in understanding how indigenous musical narratives engage with socio-political realities of scarcity. Guided by postcolonial theory and cultural trauma theory, the study examines how music channels collective memory, protest, and healing. Employing a qualitative, ethnographic approach, it integrates lyrical analysis and participatory observation to document artists' voices and grassroots musical movements across Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Chad. Key findings reveal that music conveys urgency and agency, embedding hunger within broader discourses of inequality and resistance. Songs serve not only as emotional outlets but also as mobilising tools for public awareness and policy dialogue. The study concludes that music is integral to local knowledge systems and should be harnessed in interdisciplinary efforts addressing food insecurity. Future research may explore music’s role in humanitarian interventions and transnational solidarity campaigns.