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Hip Hop in Senegal |
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Senegal, a nation of 11 million people about the size of South Dakota, is nonetheless home to a thriving hip hop scene. Senegalese hip hop represents the intersection of many cultures and languages - within individual songs one often hears French (the colonial language), English (the American influence), Wolof (the unofficial national tongue), and occasionally a sprinkling of Arabic (the religious reference).
Benny Herson, an American producer, recorded a number of Senegalese MCs and released the resulting compilation African Underground Vol. 1 in 2001. Herson says that
In Senegal, rap lyrics have become highly politicized. In the year 2000, the rappers of Senegal literally changed the political landscape by contributing to the ouster of the Diouf regime in the first successful democratic election in Senegal’s history . . . All over Africa, hip-hop is sparking debate about poverty, war, corrupt government and the threats of globalization.
While the political content of Senegalese hip hop will not be accessible to many Americans because of language barriers, the quality and passion of the music is. Thus for your listening pleasure and edification, check out “Kaadu Xaleyi” by pre-eminent Senegalese MC Duggy Tee, former member of Positive Black Soul, Senegal’s most famous rap group.
Thanks for the shout and for spreading the word on Senegalese Hip-Hop!
Heading back to Dakar in February with our good friends from Sol Productions to do a documentary called African Underground: Democracy in Dakar - an online 8 part series documenting the role of Hip-Hop on the 2007 up and coming presidential elections.
Feel free to check out more about the project at http://www.africanunderground.com
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Peace Ish. This is a very important topic you are discussing. I was wondering if we could chat more about this. I am going to be in Senegal with Ben Herson of Nomadic Wax (who you quoted above) from mid February to mid March working on an interactive media journalism project regarding the hip hop community in dakar during the time of the presidential elections. I would love to talk to you more abuot this. Hit me up.
http://www.africanunderground.com