Bensoul: Why I celebrate weed in my new album
It wasn’t by chance that Bensoul released his first solo album, The Lion of Sudah, at the Alchemist last week, on the 20th of April.
The date was symbolic. 4:20, does that ring a bell?
The 20th of April (or 4/20) is cherished by weed and pot smokers around the world as a reason to get together with friends and huge crowds every year.
This is why it was so important for Bensoul to release his first album last Thursday since announcing he was leaving Sol Generation after five years to become an independent artist.
The album, which is already available on all streaming platforms, features 15 songs, all of which advocate the use of the drug marijuana, which is banned under Kenyan laws.
“420 is a beautiful day, it’s the day of celebration of the greatest medicine cannabis, so it was important for my album to be released on that day. This is because the album has quite a few songs that advocate the use of marijuana but also support the movement that is pushing for its legalisation in Kenya,” says Bensoul. Bensoul says.
Also read: Bensoul’s sweet song to his daughter leaves baby mama beaming
The Nairobi hitmaker, who doesn’t hide the fact that he smokes the herb, says it is backward thinking for the country to continue criminalising a drug that is widely accepted in the majority of countries around the world.
“I feel like if other parts of the world have legalised marijuana then we as a country should do the same. I mean there are so many places where people are making money from the marijuana business and helping their families.
It has also been used to make medicine, so why are we as a country not able to see these benefits? We have the best weather, the best soil, the best everything to grow marijuana, but we are holding back. It’s a conversation we need to have as a country, we need to be bold about it and that’s what I’m doing with the album, I’m saying liberate it for the people,” he adds.
Under Kenyan law, anyone found in possession of cannabis for personal use can be sentenced to up to ten years in prison.
In recent years there has been pressure from various quarters, including politicians, for the government to legalise the use of cannabis.
Also read: Bensoul: Why is leaving Sol Generation a big deal?