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The Cultural Frontline: Disabled musicians turning up the volume

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Disabled musicians turning up the volume

11/06/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - The Cultural Frontline, Disabled musicians turning up the volume

What’s being done to integrate disabled musicians into the mainstream music industry

Electronic Dance star Lachi, inclusive Indian band Pehli Baarish, South African musician Babsy Mlangeni and singer songwriter Ruth Lyon

Making it as a musician can be a tough gig, but if you have a disability, things can get even more complicated. Inaccessible venues, negative attitudes and lack of representation in the industry are common challenges people have to contend with. Despite this, disabled musicians are making their voices heard. 

Award winning Nigerian-American Electronic Dance star Lachi has seven albums and millions of streams to her name. As a visually impaired musician, Lachi campaigns for the inclusion of disabled artists. As well as consulting on disability inclusion, including at the White House, this year she’s launched RAMPD, Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities.

Popular playback singer and producer Ritika Sahni formed Pehli Baarish, an inclusive band of disabled and non-disabled musicians in 2014. They perform in venues including hospitals, orphanages and drug rehabilitation centres, in order to change the perception of disability in Indian society.  Ritika talks to Tina Daheley, along with one of its members, blind keyboard player Sarfaraz Qureshi. 

Babsy Mlangeni is a celebrated South African musician, who lost his sight shortly after he was born. He started one of the first black-owned record label in South Africa and he now runs a foundation that inspires blind children to build up resilience and pursue their dreams. Babsy spoke to reporter Mpho Lakaje about his life and work. 
 
British singer songwriter Ruth Lyon cut her teeth fronting her rock band Holy Moly & The Crackers. She shares her experiences with The Cultural Frontline about how being a wheelchair user has impacted her career and driven her activism 

Producers: Kevin Satizabal Carrascal, Andrea Kidd and Laura Northedge

(Photo: Lachi. Credit: Lachi Music LLC)

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