Democracy or Democrazy?

Are we living in a democracy—or, as the late Fela Kuti once said, a demonstration of craze?

As someone who has lived under military dictatorship in Nigeria and Lomé, Togo, in West Africa, I understand this terrain very well. I understand how fear operates—and I also understand its ultimate losing proposition: it can never defeat love, truth, community, and the enduring power of human dignity.

Another red line has now been crossed. This time, it is an attack on the freedom of the press.

When journalists are arrested in the United States simply for covering a protest at a church, we must be honest about what that signals. This is an attack on press freedom. That line has been crossed.

What we are witnessing in the United States mirrors what I have seen before—and what drove Fela Kuti to write Beasts of No Nation.

Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, composer, and political activist who created Afrobeat and used his music as a weapon against military dictatorship, corruption, and imperialism. He openly defied Nigeria’s military rulers—but not without consequence. He was arrested more than 200 times, imprisoned, beaten, and watched as soldiers burned his home, assaulted civilians, and killed people. His own mother was thrown from a second-floor window by soldiers, suffering injuries that led to her death a year later.

Fela coined the phrase “Beasts of No Nation” in musical response to a statement by former South African President P.W. Botha, who warned that anti-apartheid protests in South Africa would “bring out the beast in us.”

Fela turned the mirror back on power.

He also spoke of Egbe Ke Gbe—a Yoruba concept describing a cult of corrupt, unaccountable leadership. ♫ Beasts of No Nation. Egbe Ke Gbe na bad society. ♫

What are we seeing today?

With our own two eyes, we have seen ICE deployed as a weapon of fear. With our own two eyes, we saw Black and Brown people racially profiled.

With our own two eyes, we saw Renée Good and Alex Pretti killed. With our own two eyes, we saw women, men, and elders beaten. With our own two eyes, we saw students tear-gassed in schools.

With our own two eyes, we saw the rights of U.S. citizens and legal residents violated. With our own two eyes, we saw the rights of human beings violated. With our own two eyes, we saw peaceful protesters pepper-sprayed. With our own two eyes, we saw a government demand to know who voted for whom in Minnesota. And now, with our own two eyes, we see journalists arrested for covering the news.

♫ Egbe Ke Gbe na bad society. ♫

When journalists are arrested for covering the news, democracy is already in retreat.

I know this terrain. That is why I have dedicated my life to service, positive transformation at all levels, and ethical leadership—to lifting people up, both seen and unseen. We are all passengers in this world, and there will come a time when we meet our Maker. Even our own bodies will testify against us.

I lived through military regimes in West Africa—some even described as “benevolent dictatorships” because they allowed limited press freedom. Even those regimes understood this truth: once you jail and arrest journalists, democracy is in danger.

Authoritarian systems always follow the same script. They criminalize truth, stop media, intimidate people, rule with fear, kill innocent people, and punish journalism—just as Ken Saro-Wiwa, a journalist, was executed under the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. Ken’s last words were: “Lord, take my soul—but the struggle continues.”

Fela called this Craze World:

A world where institutions exist—but not for justice. A world where leaders insult their own people:

♫ “My people are useless, My people are senseless, My people are indisciplined— Which kind talk be dat? Na craze talk be dat. Na animal talk be dat.” ♫

Where have we heard leaders describe their own people as criminals, invaders, vermin, low-IQ, “shithole countries,” “quiet piggy,” rather than human beings?

Fela was right then: that is not leadership. That is craze talk. That is animal talk.

And he is right now.

And the line he drew in Nigeria is directly applicable to the United States:

♫ “Human rights na my property. So therefore, you can’t dash me my property.” ♫

Human rights are not gifts from government. They are not conditional. They cannot be withdrawn because truth is inconvenient. Governments do not grant humanity. They are obligated to respect it.

My TED Talk, “It Takes a Community to Eradicate Hate,” from six years ago is more relevant than ever. When people—regardless of party, race, or socioeconomic status—collectively say no, put pressure and hold leaders accountable, when they vote no, when we move from “not my business” to everybody’s business, and do the right thing that lifts everyone up, that is how tyranny is stopped. That is how we move from democrazy back to democracy.

Don’t sit this out. Get engaged and do something using the tested NAACP time tested civil rights nonviolent direct-action approach. Speak up—courageously, collectively, and with unity.

History is speaking. The question is whether we are listening—and whether we will act. Make it your business today.

Dr. Walé Elegbede, EdD, MBA, PMP is president of the Rochester branch of the NAACP, TED Speaker, a trusted leader and nationally and internationally recognized keynote speaker. Walé believes in building bridges through the transformative power of human connection. His life and work reflect a steadfast belief that the highest calling of leadership is service—and that progress is made when communities, organizations and individuals move from reflection to action. Connect with him at waleelegbede.com or naacprochestermn.org