Contemporary African societies are undermined by political mismanagement. This delays the welfare of the population. Based on Odafe Atogun’s novel Taduno’s song (2016), this paper questions the function of the artist in the African contemporary society. The resort to cultural studies theory permits to view songs and music as factors of societal change thanks to the values they instill. The paper has found that beyond its entertainment function, art should also be committed to trigger the fight for freedom. The artist, therefore, should not be a puppet in the hands of the ruling class. He has the important responsibility to remain loyal to his ideals by defying the tyrannical regime in order to set the people free.
Keywords: African liberation, artist, tyranny, struggle, people
