BBC Africa Today

Beats, ballots and Zambia's election music

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Zambia's 8 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots on August 13, when the country will hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Fourteen candidates are gunning for the presidency but many see it as a two-horse race between incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema and opposition leader Brian Mundubile. The vote comes amid concerns of high cost of living and unemployment. We look at how candidates used music on the campaign trail to sway voters.

And we explain the often-strained relationship between rap music and politics as Moroccan rapper El Mehdi Lyoubi better known to his fans as Mehdi Black Wind is on trial for controversial lyrics.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Basma El Atti, Keikantse Shumba and Ayuba Iliya
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Kinyanjui
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla
11 Aug 11AM English United Kingdom News

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