'Freedom soldiers' sing for African refugees

Somali rapper Keinaan

By Jim Clancy
Special to CNN.com

DAKAR, Senegal (CNN) -- They call themselves "freedom soldiers," and they've come to help. It's a group of talented African musicians who now live in Europe and Canada. They are back in Africa to record an album to raise funds for refugee education.

These musicians are motivated. They are refugees. Their inspiration comes from their own experiences.

"As a musician I have an advantage. I can speak about these things. I can help make heard the voice of all refugees," says Congolese musician Santrick.

The backdrop for this project is Dakar, Senegal, on Africa's west coast. The man behind it is celebrated Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour. The refugee artists spent two weeks at Youssou's state-of-the-art studio recording 14 tracks for the album.

Working on the album "Building Bridges"

"For me music is a power, a force, and as soon as we use this force in the world, it has every chance of creating a positive image," says Youssou. Youssou is working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to build understanding and respect for all those forced from their homelands.

"Refugees deserve respect. Respect for what they can do themselves ... music (has) an enormous possibility to make that clear. Music unites people, music is across cultures," says Ruud Lubbers, head of UNHCR.

This project reflects that cross-culture, with 11 musicians from nine countries. Among the musicians there is no room for the political or ethnic differences that often made them refugees in the first place.

Djarkabo and Herve are from Rwanda. They are from opposite sides of the ethnic divide blamed for Rwanda's genocide. They believe that as artists, they have no choice but to work together.

"We both lived through difficulties. We don't have time for that anymore," says Herve.

Youssou N'Dour

What they do have time for is building bridges -- the title of the album. The songs they sing tell the stories of their lives.

Keinaan, a Somali, raps about his mother's struggle to rescue her children from the conflict in Somalia in the early 1990s.

"My mother, she tried ... she tried everything. She sold the house. She sold everything from the plates to the TV to get a visa," says Keinaan. The songs are about life in exile, but there's also a message of hope. Their hope is that their music will motivate people, make them aware and help them understand the plight of refugees. It's a message they are taking on tour in Europe this month.