We are back after a 1-year hiatus. It was difficult to maintain the production schedule as it was, so we will be scaling down a lot. We will continue to release conversations about Hip Hop in Africa and the African diaspora.

Our first episode back will be an interview with Senegalese hip hop artist and co-founder of the activist collective Y’en a Marre, Malal, aka Fou Malade. He is a major voice in Senegal's social and political landscape. Fou Malade shares his journey from musical influences and lyricism to organizing protests and grassroots mobilization through music. This includes his role in the Y’en a Marre movement and his arrest in the Congo in 2015.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will also be posting two bonus episodes, a podcast, and a mixtape created by students in the Hip Hop & Social Change in Africa class. Additional student mixtapes & podcasts can be found on hiphopafrican.com. This year, gender and the African diaspora were major themes in the projects.

The mixtape The Sound of the Diaspora: Identity and Resistance in African Hip Hop, features the following songs

• “Becky” by Amine (Eritrea and Ethiopia)
• “Hello Africa” by Blitz The Ambassador (Ghana)
• “Never Fight an African” by Styles P (South Africa and Jamaica)
• “Sue Me” by Wale (Nigeria)

In the podcast Unapologetic: African Women in Hip-Hop, two student hosts discuss the power behind the works of several artists, including Ghana’s Eno Barony, South Africa’s Gigi Lamayne, Uganda’s Keko, and Nigeria’s Reespect. The hosts like how these women aren’t waiting for permission to speak, but are taking the mic and making space for themselves.

Again, the podcast will continue to post interviews and conversations around hip hop in Africa and the African world. The goal is to return to the monthly format, with shorter episodes, less than 20 minutes. This is more sustainable. On our website, we will continue to feature additional content and press releases, including information on hip hop events, releases, and news.

ZuluMecca, also known as Mandisa Nduna, has made a name for herself as a rapper and actress. With a unique style and powerful lyrics, ZuluMecca is a versatile artist who transitions between music and acting. A talented lyricist and actor, ZuluMecca's presence in the entertainment industry has continued to grow. She most recently released the EP Seams. This conversation with the podcast and our students took place in April, about 2 months before the EP dropped.

Look, I am in no physical condition to listen to wack shit

The episode opens with the track "Iller Than" and ends with the track "Job Not Finished", both from the new EP. In the episode, ZuluMecca discusses her entry into Hip Hop and some of her influences. She reflects on the balance artists must make between staying true to themselves and servicing the industry. She also talks about having a successful acting career and the relationships between her music and acting skills and interests.

ZuluMecca also talks about her spiritual journey and how that has impacted her career. During COVID-19, ZuluMecca reflects on her creative journey and taking the time to work on her writing and incorporating spirituality into her music. ZuluMecca became an ordained spiritual healer, using this background to inform her hip-hop and bring spirituality to her music.

I gave you prophesy, showed you the God in me I gave you knowledge, gave you Garden routes I gave Harlem Streets, I gave you Carter III, God MC I gave you Vaudeville, all the skill in my discography

Go to the announcements page for information on events and albums discussed in the episode.

In this episode, I break down the road to breakdancing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I also have a solo debate about the topic of appropriation, referencing Ada Enechi's 2023 article: Are Black People Being Pushed out of Hip Hop?

I also discuss the online hubbub about South African artist Tyla's racial identification, referencing Marti Bowser's article in Blavity.

There are also a few milestones to recognize.

30 years ago...In Ghana, Reggie Rockstone & others were starting the Hiplife movement. In Senegal, Positive Black Soul Recorded their 1st track "Boul Faale" ("Don't worry") in which they denounced the corruption of the local political system, and the groundbreaking group Daara J is formed. 20 years ago... K'naan released his 1st studio album, My Life Is a Movie. In Nigeria: Mode9 released his 1st album, Malcolm X. In Tanzania, X Plastaz released their first and only album Masai Hip Hop, which put Tanzanian hip hop on the map.

I'm doing a PhD in Streetology, in the University of Life

Breeze Yoko is an internationally known South African graffiti artist. Breeze Yoko grew up in Cape Town, in Gugulethu and Nyanga East. He is known for his vibrant and thought-provoking street art, and for bringing a unique perspective to the urban art scene. His work often showcases a blend of cultural influences and social commentary, sparking conversations and challenging perceptions. With a bold and fearless approach to art, Breeze Yoko's creations have made a lasting impact on the streets of South Africa and beyond, inspiring others to see the world through a different lens.

Breeze Yoko on the graffiti scene in South Africa post-apartheid...

The domination of walls became very, very, very white at some stage, you know, and I think that also influenced what I wanted to reflect on the walls, I thought shit, you know, put on more us on the wall. We're in Africa after all. And slowly that gave birth to what is now slowly becoming a uniquely South African style. There’s crews in Joburg as well, who are adding Ndebele elements into their graffiti. You know, were were starting to learn how to borrow from our cultures in order to develop what we had seen somewhere else. And so, so yeah, the scene grew from that.

Breeze Yoko's work often addresses topics such as inequality, poverty, and the struggles of marginalized communities. One of the remarkable aspects of Breeze Yoko's art is his ability to engage with the local community and involve them in the creation process. He often collaborates with residents, youth groups, and schools to create murals that resonate with the area's history and context. This approach not only beautifies the surroundings but also empowers the community to take ownership of the art and the messages it conveys. His dedication to using art as a platform for change and empowerment sets him apart as a talented and socially conscious artist in the street art scene in South Africa.

Breeze Yoko on the dilemma artists sometimes face when offered money for work that doesn't feed their spirit or takes them away from their goals ...

... that "gotta eat" has fucked us over. As a nation. As a generation. As a race. That "gotta eat" shit. That "gotta get the bag shit"... awe man, we're dying. And our creativity is dying from that as well

Breeze Yoko on social media

• Twitter
• Instagram

Political protests, breakdance competitions, U.S. artists and Africa, new book on London hip hop, call for papers, events on women & hip hop, The Grammys recognizes African hip hop, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts hip hop, and...

There are also upcoming Hip-Hop events happening in Accra, Johannesburg, Jinja/Kampala, Brussels, and Brooklyn.

This year, our Spring Series covers South Africa. In this episode, we have a conversation with South African Hip-Hop pioneer Emile YX?. Emile is part of the pioneering Hip Hop group Black Noise, one of the earliest Hip Hop groups in South Africa. He later co-founded the Hip Hop NGO Heal the Hood, which is based in the Cape Flats community of Cape Town, South Africa. A Hip Hop elder statesman, scholar, and educator, Emile visited the Hip Hop in Africa class to talk to us about his work and his scholarship.

Emile YX? Online

Emile YX?'s book Reconnect the String: the African Origins of Hip Hop Culture & It's Healing Power

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