Zaire: Information on the singer Tabu Ley and the political nature of his songs and whether his cassettes are banned by the regime, his song "Exile" and any publicly available information on his status in France

Information on the current status of Tabu Ley (Rochereau) in France is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. According to a community liaison officer, familiar with the social and political situation in Zaire, with the Conseil des organismes francophones du Toronto métropolitain (COFTEM) in Toronto, some of Tabu Ley's songs comment on the dismal political and economic situation in the country (22 Nov. 1994). According to the source, although the songs are not meant to be a direct attack on the government, they encourage Zairois to be concerned about the "economic and social rot" surrounding them. For instance, the song "Exile" compares Zaire to a couple in a "hopeless relationship" that has gone beyond salvation (ibid.). The only solution for a couple in such a relationship is to annul it, that is, "live in exile from the relationship." To the knowledge of the source, the term "exile" in this context does not refer to exile in a foreign country, but rather distancing oneself from a relationship (ibid.).

According to the same source, Tabu Ley's cassettes or songs are not banned in Zaire. However, in the liaison officer's opinion, the government may ban songs with political undertones such as "Exile" (ibid.). No one is exempt from the government's reprisals against its critics, including Tabu Ley and other Zairois musicians (ibid.). According to the source, if the government's treatment of opposition critics or politicians serves as an example, it becomes clear that any Zairois musician wanting to survive in Zaire must refrain from songs with political messages.

A representative of the Washington-based Zaire Network, a North American coalition of Zairois associations opposed to the Mobutu regime, corroborated the above information provided by the COFTEM staff member (22 Nov. 1994). The representative stated that Tabu Ley is primarily an entertainer who has a few songs that question the culture of dictatorship in Zaire. Although the representative is unaware of the banning of the sale of Tabu Ley's cassettes in Zaire, based on the current human rights climate, Tabu Ley's cassettes do not need an official ban to stop them from being sold or played in Zaire (ibid.). Overzealous soldiers and sycophantic government officials will "harass or rough up" people for playing a cassette of Tabu Ley, whose lyrics they consider a provocation or anti-government (ibid.). The representative stated that Tabu Ley currently lives in his permanent home in New Jersey, but he is unaware of the musician's current status in France.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Community liaison officer, Conseil des Organismes francophones du Toronto métropolitain (COFTEM), Toronto. 22 November 1994. Telephone interview.

Representative, Zaire Network, Washington, DC. 22 November 1994. Telephone interview.