Equiguinean sage raps truth to power

He may say he doesn't do politics, but rapper Adjoguening's work in Equatorial Guinea has earned him death threats that he acknowledges could one day seal his fate.

His homemade rap discs in fang, the language of the country's main ethnic group, have found a large audience inside the country for some years.

And whether he likes it or not, for many people in the western African nation, his name is associated with criticism of the Malabo regime, which has been condemned by international rights groups.

Then again, the name Adjoguening does mean "warrior sage" in the fang language.

"With every album, people think that he is going to get into trouble -- and these are the same who buy it," said his producer, a Cameroonian who calls himself M. Labbe.

Adjoguening's sixth album, which came out in November 2011, was another hit -- and it packs a punch.

Receiving AFP at his home in the port city of Bata, the rapper weighs his words carefully. But that is the norm in this country, ruled by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema since he seized power in a 1979 coup.

Only last year Amnesty International condemned the regime for arrests, torture and the ill-treatment of people who dared to speak out, claims dismissed by the regime.

Making sacrifices

He waves aside reports that he has already endured a spell in jail, but confirms that his last album did cause him problems.

"People have called me to say, 'Man, you're going too far there'," he said.

What brought him such unwelcome attention is one song, 'Live is zero', that for some people was too close to the bone.

"Everybody finishes at zero," Adjoguening explained. "Michael Jackon was the biggest star, he's dead. (Osama) bin Laden was a terrorist and a believer, and he's dead."

But some observers, reading between the lines, have seen the song as a message for the country's rulers.

'To show the way, you have to make sacrifices'

Adjoguening glanced nervously towards the open doorway of his home.

"They can pay for contract killer to take me out," he said. "It's a risk."

"There are two artists in Equatorial Guinea, Maele and me. Maele isn't singing any more, he does business. So that leaves just me."

Maela, who also won fame singing songs about ordinary life, lost much of his following in the early 2000s when he began to soften his line towards the regime.

Adjoguening shows no signs of doing that: and he refuses the option of exile.

"Exile is the dream, and those who dream do not accept reality," he said.

"To show the way, you have to make sacrifices."

He compares himself to the American rapper Tupac Shakur, a hip hop artist whose themes were also highly political. He died young, at only 25, gunned down in what was thought to have been a feud with fellow rappers.

Adjoguening acknowledges Shakur's early death, saying: "That could happen to me too of course, because of my songs, my themes."

Underground deals

But he is happy to be beyond the pale so far as the regime is concerned, and makes a point of saying he never appeared at any of the recent Africa Cup of Nations events promoted by the authorities.

The event, which ended on Sunday, was co-hosted with neighbouring Gabon.

"I'm not a politician, but I speak about what's wrong, to change mentalities.

"In Africa, they say that those who speak out are in the opposition. I don't do opposition hip hop, but the underground hip hop deals with important, serious subjects," he said.

"People say that's revolutionary, but it's just reality."

So can he criticise the president, the government?

He took his time before answering.

"Yes, that depends," he said carefully. "Me, I can only sing about what I have se