I Hear The People’s Daily Cries For Help Echoing Across My Social Media – Uche Chidozie Okorie

 

I HEAR THE PEOPLE’S DAILY CRIES FOR HELP ECHOING ACROSS MY SOCIAL MEDIA – UCHE CHIDOZIE OKORIE

 

Uche Chidozie Okorie, popularly known as Renaiz, is a poet, playwright, music producer, and tutor from Abia State, Nigeria. He emerged as the third-place winner in the recently concluded African Human Rights Music Competition. A graduate of English from Caritas University, Enugu, Okorie speaks with Wole Adedoyin about his passion for music and his experience in the competition.

WA: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL BACKGROUND?

OKORIE: My name is Uche Chidozie Okorie, from Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. My love for writing—especially poetry—drew me closer to music. In the early 2000s, while visiting my uncle, I saw the American rapper Nas performing I Can on television. The call-and-response format, especially the children’s choral part, fascinated me. Whenever I heard that melody—sometimes from ice-cream sellers passing by—my spirit lifted. That day, I promised myself that if those children could be on that grand stage, so could I.

My stage name Renaiz comes from the word “Renaissance,” inspired by my university studies in English literature. The Renaissance ideals of reform and restoration transformed my thinking. I believed I could become anything I dreamed of.

WA: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS MUSIC COMPETITION?

OKORIE: Genuine platforms for independent artists are rare. Most require payments or restrictive memberships. I wanted to be heard without chasing trends, but rather to record a song that reflects my true experiences.

WA: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COMPETITION?

OKORIE: I saw it on a WhatsApp broadcast group run by Ojo, who regularly posts creative opportunities.

WA: WHAT SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE DID YOUR SONG ADDRESS?

OKORIE: Racial, ethnic, and tribal suppression and oppression.

WA: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR THEME?

OKORIE: I’m constantly thinking about wars in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and about land grabbing and resource control—issues that weigh heavily on me.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR LYRICS AND COMPOSITION?

OKORIE: My inspiration came from hearing people’s cries for help every day on social media—seeing their flags, hearing their anthems, and feeling the struggles of the masses trying to be heard.

WA: HOW DOES YOUR MUSIC REFLECT SOCIAL OR HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES?

OKORIE: My track is a call for freedom and liberalism. It urges people to stand up for their rights, speak out, and challenge suppression. Without voicing a problem, there can be no solution.

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHILE CREATING YOUR ENTRY?

OKORIE: I’m more comfortable rapping than singing because I don’t have a smooth singing voice. In competitions, melodic voices often win. At one point, I wanted to give up, but I pushed through and focused on creating a song that was catchy while still carrying my message.

WA: HOW HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION INFLUENCED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

OKORIE: It has strengthened my resolve to create more freedom-themed music. I’ve released an album titled Freedom by Renaiz on major streaming platforms, with tracks like Freedom, Aftermath, and Alien dedicated to human rights.

WA: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA?

OKORIE: Music raises awareness and challenges systems without fear or favour. It can enlighten people beyond the distractions of trends. My work is inspired by Fela Kuti, a pioneer who used music to tell the truth.

WA: DID THE COMPETITION OPEN DOORS FOR COLLABORATION OR NETWORKING?

OKORIE: Yes. Competitions like this are gateways to exploration, collaboration, and growth.

WA: HOW DID IT FEEL TO HAVE YOUR WORK RECOGNIZED?

OKORIE: Amazing. It makes all the dreams, drills, and grind worthwhile.

WA: WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMPETING WITH ARTISTS FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES?

OKORIE: Incredible. The level of talent was inspiring, and everyone was aiming for the same goal.

WA: HOW CAN COMPETITIONS LIKE THIS ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS?

OKORIE: By expanding participation to all levels of society—schools, universities, and public spaces—and inspiring people to live out the ideals they express in their art.

WA: WERE THERE OTHER ENTRIES THAT INSPIRED YOU?

OKORIE: Yes, especially lyrically.

WA: HOW WILL YOU CONTINUE USING MUSIC TO ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS?

OKORIE: I’ll keep releasing tracks that address human rights and teach my students about them in Civic Education classes.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR SONG WILL HAVE?

OKORIE: I want it to stimulate listeners to question injustice and challenge their oppressors.

WA: HOW CAN YOUNG AFRICAN MUSICIANS CONTRIBUTE MORE ACTIVELY?

OKORIE: By creating platforms—preferably with international oversight—where their voices can be heard without censorship.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE FUTURE ENTRANTS?

OKORIE: Let the music speak through you. The best lyrics are those written on your soul.

WA: WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MUSICAL PROJECT?

OKORIE: My next song is Beautiful People, which addresses misconceptions the Ghanaian people have about Nigeria’s Igbo ethnic group.