Music and culture in entertainment-education

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of popular songs, music artists, and music-based interventions in entertainment-education to propose that music is a participatory communication tool that enables local voices to be heard in the creation of culturally centered behavior change communication programs. Based on research and the experience of the Africa Stop Ebola song and community engagement campaign during the Ebola epidemic of 2014/2015 in West Africa, the chapter presents theoretical reflections and makes practical recommendations on how to integrate music in communication and community engagement interventions for health and communication for development campaigns.