Hip Hop in Africa

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Hip hop is known for its fierce lyrics: of using insults or strong language  to convey social and political issues surrounding the world we live today. These days youths of African American and African heritage are using rap to express concerns the corruption and poor health care of citizens, Hip hop was originally inspired by Tupac Shakur whose rap was about the daily troubles of blacks in the United States.

Today young male Africans are at the forefront of expressing the truths of being African living in a country with greedy political leaders, who steal from the people and use it to sponsor luxury lifestyles. This includes buying properties in foreign countries, putting their children in private schools, and owning a luxury sport car, while their citizens are suffering with no electricity and water. Equally young African women are using rap to criticize gender-based violence, such as rape most common in ghetto communities. The women who face such violence cannot afford lawyers to give them the justice they deserve and if they can, most likely that the be ruled against if the judges are bribed.

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Young Africans use rap to communicate the issues above because, it is an international language that youths of any gender or background understands. The more people who listen to African rap, they more they will be enlightened about problems, and will encourage people to help. This will change the mindset of African leaders as any wrong doings would be exposed.

 

In Senegal, rappers supported Abdoulaye Wade in 2000 elections to get the youths to vote, as the policies are youth friendly. This is an indication that anyone can exploit the movement of hip hop to their advantage, for personal gain. Although, in this instance the youths are showing Wade in a positive light, this can go the wrong way, as when Wade subsequently starts to take advantage of the resources he has access to. The truth is that African presidential candidates provide promises that are never fulfilled. This is a vicious cycle of African politicians they make empty promises to citizen that later turns to having personal gain.

In my opinion, rap in Africa is a written poetry to express opinion and beliefs, that people are afraid to communicate. Also, it is a death trap as anyone who criticize the government will face death, because you are exposing hidden agendas of corruption and money laundering. This makes it very dangerous in African rap scene and anyone willing to take the government in rap, is a role model and would be remembered for attempting to free the people from the hands of slave owners.

References:

Wil50n Center (11th July 2007 /unknown) African underground: youth and hip hop in African politics. Available at: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/african-underground-youth-and-hip-hop-african-politics (Accessed: 11th May 2021).

The images:

Deutsche Welle, D. (2015) How women are pushing back against rape culture in South Africa. Available at:https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=j%2b%2b3e4hK&id=7CF67F30346FB46E4CA1455D8B5224E92AD5EE25&thid=OIP.j--3e4hKj7u-FWF5WhW29AHaEK&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.dw.com%2fimage%2f15909729_303.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR8fefb77b884a8fbbbe1561795a15b6f4%3frik%3dJe7VKukkUotdRQ%26pid%3dImgRaw&exph=394&expw=700&q=rap+in+africa&simid=608038395634851338&ck=31FB2A38BE5BA352705E6B7B6F7403B3&selectedIndex=25&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0  (Accessed: 11th May 2021).

Bloglet.com, B. (2001) Rap music- history, influences and evolution] bloglet.com. Available at: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=v7Co0CuD&id=E981287F371654EA64902710CE7F5CDCBDB88FEA&thid=OIP.v7Co0CuDwE-VKpWBBMXzfgHaF7&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bloglet.com%2fgallery%2frap-music-history-influences-and-evolution%2frap-music-history-influences-and-evolution_0.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fRbfb0a8d02b83c04f952a958104c5f37e%3frik%3d6o%252b4vdxcf84QJw%26pid%3dImgRaw&exph=768&expw=958&q=Rap+and+Music&simid=608003129659058559&ck=06FA6CE2E82521F71BFEBD5E714A036B&selectedIndex=1&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0 (Accessed: 11th May 2021).

Gheconomy.com, G. (2009) Africa's tortured relationship with corruption- GHEconomy. Available at: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=98Qaf5D5&id=06860FF7A6F5DA532F6B7B7A46E23BEB78F87C81&thid=OIP.98Qaf5D5kShwHTmBHwSq7QHaD9&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FRf7c41a7f90f99128701d39811f04aaed%3Frik%3DgXz4eOs74kZ6ew%26riu%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fgheconomy.com%252fwp-content%252fuploads%252f2018%252f03%252fCorruption-In-Africa.jpg%26ehk%3DvPR6ttdHZX2f68HERmkIKmyLAmV7BlXm0wX%252fM%252fxm2sk%253d%26risl%3D%26pid%3DImgRaw&exph=450&expw=840&q=corruption+in+african&simid=608002519773563353&ck=24F154E52E03935E59454A5B3D39CF5E&selectedindex=62&form=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=0&sim=11 (Accessed: 11th April 2021).

University of Kansas, U. (2013) Chapter 27. Working together for racial justice. Available at: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=oYznjayS&id=6CEC327FC0DDD3A9BC344483F851A526B1BE9A36&thid=OIP.oYznjaySqJzGS_4P0DdbswHaGV&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fRa18ce78dac92a89cc64bfe0fd0375bb3%3frik%3dNpq%252bsSalUfiDRA%26riu%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fctb.ku.edu%252fsites%252fdefault%252ffiles%252fchapter_files%252fchapter_27_section_2_edit.jpg%26ehk%3dCjEDCSNTTqtcNc4Z5iQL%252fFjoChm5N%252bOUgQESKoDeZy4%253d%26risl%3d%26pid%3dImgRaw&exph=513&expw=600&q=Different+Cultural+Backgrounds&simid=607988552550654550&ck=E8252C32D7FE1098E38DDF526C7D115D&selectedIndex=13&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0(Accessed: 11th May 2021).

Presidence.sn, P. (2015) Biography of Abdoulaye Wade- former president of Senegal. Available at: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=l0O%2F%2BNH4&id=3F87A64BB5A7C992F04F42D521622AC2B1203658&thid=OIP.l0O_-NH42_XYUiheUX-6JgHaHZ&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.presidence.sn%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fabdoulaye_wade_01.jpg&exph=959&expw=960&q=Abdoulaye+Wade+in+2000+elections+&simid=608020635944963391&ck=CFF85D192B86FE6B49228766346B754C&selectedindex=0&form=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=0&sim=11&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR9743bff8d1f8dbf5d852285e517fba26%3Frik%3DWDYgscIqYiHVQg%26pid%3DImgRaw (Accessed: 11th May 2021).

 

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