Maysa Daw unites with global artists on music track to ‘break silence’ on world’s hidden crises

Four artists from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Palestine have released (No More) Radio Silence, a new collaboration with music producer Kensaye, in partnership with Oxfam.

The track features Congolese-born artist Espoir Dekin, South Sudanese rapper Gatkuoth Wan, Palestinian musician and member of hip-hop group DAM, Maysa Daw, and London-based Palestinian composer and oud player Saied Silbak.

Together, they blend afro/Arab hip-hop, industrial and electronica to turn lived experiences of conflict into a piece of sound and protest, calling for unity, visibility and resistance.

Artists share their experiences

The artists’ stories and experiences are woven into every note on the track. Wan raps:

I speak for those who cannot speak…stop the war.

Meanwhile Maysa’s verse, delivered in Arabic, carries lines about silence and speaking out:

With your silence, nothing is innocent…We’ll keep repeating. I don’t surrender – I overflow.

Espoir’s chorus and Saied’s oud complete a piece of music built from grief, defiance and solidarity.

For the artists involved, the track is more than a musical collaboration. Espoir, who now mentors young refugees through Music Action, grew up during war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has faced intense violent conflict for over three decades and is now facing a new Ebola outbreak:

People are dying every single day. But no one is talking about that.

Wan wants the track to reach people with no knowledge of what is happening in South Sudan:

Maybe someone’s never heard of South Sudan before – but they will.

For Maysa, the track is an act of moral necessity: “Silence only benefits the oppressor.”

The track launched on 8 July at an event at 160DL, a recording studio in east London, bringing together music industry specialists, journalists, influencers and activists. Guests heard the artists in conversation about the humanitarian crises behind the track, before a live performance connected the music to the stories that shaped it.

Kensaye Russell, Lead Producer of (No More) Radio Silence, commented:

Radio is silent on these crises, but we are not. We want this track to touch people in a way that makes their ears prick up – because music can be a powerful weapon to change things. Listen to us.

Oxfam’s No More Radio Silence campaign

The track release forms part of Oxfam’s No More Radio Silence campaign, which calls on people to turn up, tune in and speak out about hidden and ignored humanitarian crises in Sudan and South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen, and in Palestine, where people continue to endure violent occupation and Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The collaboration began at Glastonbury 2025, where refugee DJ collective Our Heartbeats performed with Oxfam, and visitors to Oxfam’s festival space recorded lines for a solidarity poem. The opening line of the track: ‘You. Me. Us. We…Loudest in our unity’ comes from one festival-goer, before more voices are woven into the finished track alongside vocals from Maysa, Espoir and Wan, and Saied’s oud.

Joe Goodman, of Oxfam said:

This track started as a poem recited in a festival field and now it’s a powerful piece of sound and protest carrying the stories of Palestine, DRC and South Sudan further than we ever could alone.

Now it’s your turn. Our humanity should be seen and our voices should be heard, so bring the noise. Everyone who turns up the track, tunes in, and speaks out becomes part of the answer. Make enough noise, together, and no crisis stays impossible to hear.

(No More) Radio Silence is available now on Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

People can also listen to the track and join the the People’s Frequency, Oxfam’s pirate radio-inspired digital platform which brings together music, audio and updates from communities affected by humanitarian crises around the world, alongside opportunities to learn more and take action.

Featured image via Oxfam / Guy Bell