I Don’t Lick Boots to Get Favour:Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi 

Ghanaian reggae musician and Pan-Africanist Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi has strongly defended his decision to maintain his dignity and independence, declaring that he will never “lick boots” to receive favours.

In a passionate statement, Ras Caleb said he has never relied on sycophancy to advance his career and does not intend to start doing so.

He criticised what he described as a culture in Ghana and across Africa where people are sometimes expected to humble themselves excessively before those with power or influence in order to secure contracts, endorsements, opportunities or other forms of support.

According to him, such behaviour is often presented as respect, loyalty or networking, but he considers it a form of servitude.

“I don’t lick boots to get favour. I never have. I never will,” he stated.

Ras Caleb said his upbringing taught him to value dignity and hard work rather than dependence on powerful individuals.

He noted that his parents and ancestors did not raise him to sacrifice his self-respect for favours, adding that his connection to the Nyabinghi tradition has also shaped his outlook on life.

The musician said he has spent more than two decades working on the streets and stages of Ghana, promoting PanAfrica-Ghana, reggae and youth development, insisting that his journey has been driven by faith, hard work and determination rather than personal favours.

He warned that accepting opportunities at the cost of one’s dignity could eventually become a form of bondage.

“If you have to lick boots to get favour, then that favour is not for you. It is a leash,” he said, arguing that someone who compromises their principles to secure a small opportunity could later be expected to make even greater compromises.

Ras Caleb also expressed concern about the pressure placed on young musicians, entrepreneurs and emerging leaders to seek the approval of influential people.

He said talented young people are sometimes encouraged to go and beg powerful individuals, causing them to suppress their opinions and compromise their values simply to gain access or opportunities.

He criticised situations where people laugh at jokes they do not find funny, applaud behaviour they disagree with or address individuals with exaggerated titles simply because they want something from them.

For Ras Caleb, such practices do not represent the kind of society that Ghana and Africa should be building.

He cited historical figures including Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and Yaa Asantewaa as examples of people who stood firmly for their principles rather than surrendering their dignity to those in positions of power.

“I stand eye-to-eye. Not toe-to-knee,” he declared.

Ras Caleb outlined three principles that guide his approach.

First, he said respect must be mutual and favour must be earned. While he respects everyone, from cleaners to presidents, he does not believe anyone should be worshipped in exchange for assistance.

Second, he said he would rather keep his boots clean than have to lick someone else’s boots for an opportunity. He maintained that he would continue working with integrity and would not pursue opportunities that require him to compromise his values.

His third principle is that dignity is the only currency that does not devalue.

According to him, financial currencies can rise and fall in value, but once a person trades away their dignity, regaining it can be extremely difficult.

Addressing young people who look up to him, Ras Caleb urged them to develop their skills and character to the point where their work can speak for itself.

He encouraged them to build professional relationships based on mutual respect rather than begging or excessive dependence on influential individuals.

“Let your work lick the boots, not your tongue,” he advised.

He further acknowledged that standing by one’s principles may sometimes come with setbacks, including delayed opportunities, rejection or opposition, but said such challenges should not force people to abandon their values.

Concluding his message, Ras Caleb reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining his principles.

“I, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, have never licked boots to get favour, and I will die with my tongue clean and my head high,” he stated.

He ended with the declaration that he would rather stand with a lion for truth than kneel with sheep for favour, signing off with his familiar message: “IDRIN! LIVING AS ONE! BLESSED TIMES.”