Some stories can be so simple and yet carry such a heavy lesson. The other day I was told such a story by Ugandan rapper GNL Zamba.
Lately GNL and I have been getting into long conversations over social media, reflecting on his experience in the Ugandan music industry. The other day, we were chatting about the image that rappers project to earn respect (for my previous blog), and he told me the following story:
“When I was performing in Mbarara 2012, I met a fan backstage after the show. I was autographing my Baboon Forest posters, which had me in a white vest with tattoos on my arm. The fan showed me my name permanently tattooed on his fore arm. He was emulating the ''tough gangsta look," something I did to promote my Nyo Nyo single. Little did he know that my tattoos had been drawn on me by an artist with a marker, which I washed off after the shoot, and that I don't have tattoos on my body to this day. 17 years old and he will have to wear a long sleeve shirt to the rest of his job interviews! Probably he will get to 40 and ask why the hell he has a permanent GNL tattoo on his arm! My aim was to entertain, but then I saw these results. I stepped back from doing things like that, because young people take it seriously. It made me grow into a more responsible artist whose role is to inspire and give the young better things to aspire to. That’s why I participate in youth and mentorship programs, to send a positive message to the young and impressionable.”
When I heard this story, it made me think about the power of celebrity and media. The human mind is so easily swayed by “cool.” When we – especially young and impressionable minds – believe that a person is cool, we more easily accept all of their traits and begin to emulate them. If a character on a TV show is funny, smart and skilful, good looking, charming and often victorious, then we may come to believe that all aspects of their personality are now cool too, including drug use and sexuality and whatever else is presented alongside that handsome smile. This is the power brands are buying when they sign on a celebrity ‘ambassador’ for a commercial endorsement deal.
Celebrities: be mindful of what you put out there, because there are people who really take it all to heart.
Lately GNL and I have been getting into long conversations over social media, reflecting on his experience in the Ugandan music industry. The other day, we were chatting about the image that rappers project to earn respect (for my previous blog), and he told me the following story:
“When I was performing in Mbarara 2012, I met a fan backstage after the show. I was autographing my Baboon Forest posters, which had me in a white vest with tattoos on my arm. The fan showed me my name permanently tattooed on his fore arm. He was emulating the ''tough gangsta look," something I did to promote my Nyo Nyo single. Little did he know that my tattoos had been drawn on me by an artist with a marker, which I washed off after the shoot, and that I don't have tattoos on my body to this day. 17 years old and he will have to wear a long sleeve shirt to the rest of his job interviews! Probably he will get to 40 and ask why the hell he has a permanent GNL tattoo on his arm! My aim was to entertain, but then I saw these results. I stepped back from doing things like that, because young people take it seriously. It made me grow into a more responsible artist whose role is to inspire and give the young better things to aspire to. That’s why I participate in youth and mentorship programs, to send a positive message to the young and impressionable.”
When I heard this story, it made me think about the power of celebrity and media. The human mind is so easily swayed by “cool.” When we – especially young and impressionable minds – believe that a person is cool, we more easily accept all of their traits and begin to emulate them. If a character on a TV show is funny, smart and skilful, good looking, charming and often victorious, then we may come to believe that all aspects of their personality are now cool too, including drug use and sexuality and whatever else is presented alongside that handsome smile. This is the power brands are buying when they sign on a celebrity ‘ambassador’ for a commercial endorsement deal.
Celebrities: be mindful of what you put out there, because there are people who really take it all to heart.
