Musicians from Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe are putting xenophobia on the cultural agenda in a musical initiative to get people talking about discrimination.  South Africa, especially Johannesburg, is home to thousands of foreign Africans. Some are refugees, fleeing persecution and seeking asylum; others are looking for work and a better life. Many find that life is not what they expected. They face discrimination from government services, harassment by police and degrading treatment from people, whether in the taxis, schools, shops or streets.   Initiated by CMFD and supported by MMINO, the musicians are working with migrants and young people to create three songs that get to the heart of the matter.

Though the music focuses on the Mozambican experience, to better understand xenophobia CMFD interviewed 100 migrants from all over the continent about their experiences in South Africa. The overwhelming majority told about how they personally suffered from discrimination, including from police and health services.