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This contribution analyses the political position musicians in Guinea-Bissau take to comment on
the current state of Guinean society. By describing this state, musicians intend to inform and
mobilize its population. Their central message is that development is obstructed by corruption
and that people themselves need to assume responsibility for the fate of their country. The
political field is described as being one of trust and mistrust, unequal power relations and the
occult. Musicians as prestigious members of society emerge as critical observers of this political
field. Most often they escape censorship and express the unspeakable by turning common
linguistic concepts like "sugar", "fish" and "boat" into metaphors. Thus, sensitizing takes place
indirectly. Musicians do not influence the politics of the day. Instead, by combining the
population´s language, Kriol, with western-influenced music, they direct their message at the
youth and politicians. This contribution aims at illustrating the contents of political music and its embededdedness in socio-political contexts. Furthermore, it suggests the subtle influence of this music on discourses in the political field and on desirable political changes.