Friday the 7th of August sees Africa’s young music exports putting their beloved countries on the spot in South Africa. The two talented musicians have toured extensively in the African Continent and abroad selling Africa’s music to the masses. The great musicians in question are Elemotho from Namibia and Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka from Zimbabwe. Houses of NsAkO, which is cosy and nicely decorated with African accessories, will be roaring like a true African Lion when these two young men get on stage.

Namibian superstar Elemotho has performed internationally in Norway, Germany, Austria, USA, Tanzania, Uganda and he is going back to Spain in October this year. Elemotho´s sounds have been described by the local Namibian media as “…music of the future making waves today, being able to charm the audiences with flavored remix of jazz-blues, reggae, Afro-pop and African rhythms and delivering fired, passionate, ecstasy and exotic performances.” His tour includes a gig tonight at Bassline, Sat 01 August at Swaziland’s Bush Fire Festival, Tings n’ Times next Wednesday, Friday 7th at the House and he wraps it up at Meropa Casino in Polokwane on the 8th August. For more info on this artist: www.elemotho.com or www.southernpulse.co.za

Zimbabwe’s Samm Farai Monro, better known as Comrade Fatso, is one of the most explosive and controversial acts in Southern Africa today. Comrade Fatso calls his poetry Toyi Toyi Poetry, radical street poetry that mixes Shona with English and electrifying guitars with mbira and pulsating hip hop. It’s a riotous new music that is an uprising against oppression. 2008 saw Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka (his backing band) launch their much-acclaimed album, House of Hunger, banned in Zimbabwe but praised internationally by Canadian, UK and French media houses among others is already sale in the US and Europe. Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka will be playing at the adventurous Oppikoppi festival on the 8th August just after blowing “The House” – as House of NsAkO is affectionately known – away. For more info: www.comradefatso.com

Be nicely reminded to go and get yourself a dose of Zimbabwe’s riotous Chimurenga sounds and Namibia’s Kalahari rhythms. This is the ONLY way you will understand why Comrade Fatso’s poetry is being studied at universities in the UK and South Africa. Elemotho on the other hand will give you so many reasons why this philosophy and psychology graduate’s music turns oppression into liberation, failure into triumph…

Venue:             House of NsAkO, Brixton, Johannesburg
Date:    07th August 2009
Acts:     Elemotho
Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka
Time:   20:00
Cover: R50.00

Ground-breaking film Democracy in Dakar bridges the gaps between hip hop activism, video journalism and documentary film.

Brooklyn, NY—On July 23, the 92YTribeca will host a sneak preview of the groundbreaking documentary Africa Underground: Democracy in Dakar, a film about the role of musical activism in the Senegalese political process. The documentary exposes audiences to a gritty, raw side of Senegalese music and politics, through youth hip hop culture.

Using hip hop music as the primary storytelling device, Democracy in Dakar chronicles the lived experience on the streets of Dakar before and after the controversial 2007 presidential elections. The film follows rappers, DJs, journalists, professors, and others, intimately capturing the fluidity and intensity of emotion surrounding the controversial election.

“We see hip hop as a means by which we can mobilize the fight for fair and free democracy,” says Baay Musa, one of the artists featured in the film. “Hip hop is a powerful non-violent weapon that can externalize what’s in the hearts of frustrated, disillusioned youth. Complacency often comes from ignorance, so we want to get our message out to as many people as possible.”

In the 2000 presidential elections, youth and hip hop profoundly contributed to the success of Abdoulaye Wade—a candidate who, at the time, “embodied change” from the long-standing Parti Socialiste du Sénégal, which had reigned since the country’s independence in 1960.

By 2007, the cost of living had increased exponentially and hundreds of thousands of young Senegalese men had died in attempts to migrate to Europe in the face of remarkable unemployment rates, the once hopeful population of Senegalese youth was again in search of change. It was during the winter of this year that filmmakers Ben Herson, Magee McIlvaine and Chris Moore packed a small set of equipment to film the weeks leading up to the election.

“I can’t think of another hip-hop film that approaches the convergence of hip-hop and politics in this way” said Magee Mcilvaine the films co-director. “By using hip-hop to tell the story of this election, we hoped to make African politics more relevant to a younger demographic who might not be interested in it otherwise.”

Originally shot as a seven-part documentary mini-series released over the Internet, Democracy in Dakar set out to raise awareness in the United States about the political situation in Senegal. The short films were unexpectedly viewed widely across Senegal and the African Diaspora as well.

“In Senegal, hip-hop is being used as a way to critique Senegalese and global systems of inequality and injustice, sometimes successfully and sometimes not,” explains Ben Herson, the film’s founder and co-producer. “The important thing is that people are trying and that’s what this film is about.”

As Senegalese leaders continue to disappoint their voters and as global injustice prevails, many journalists contemplate the increasing fragility of Senegal’s democracy.

“Senegal is one of the few African countries never to have a coup,” says Musa. “Sometimes it seems as though the media is just holding its breath until we do. They don’t understand that we are a peaceful people and we will continue to inspire hope, not violence, through hip hop.”

About Democracy in Dakar:

http://www.democracyindakar.com

About Nomadic Wax:
Nomadic Wax is a fair trade record label and a film, music and educational events production company specializing in socially conscious global urban music and media. Learn more about Nomadic Wax at www.nomadicwax.com

About Sol Productions:

Sol Productions is a non-profit film production company that works to educate American and global audiences on themes that may never reach them through traditional education, corporate media or Hollywood films. Sol Productions’ mission is to make a personal contribution to democracy and to inspire viewers to pursue their own questions.

Learn more about Sol Productions at www.sol-productions.org

Democracy in Dakar, Episode 3: Election Day

Sunday, February 25, 2007 – Election Day in Senegal, West Africa. Episode 3 takes place on election day and follows the group Sen Kumpe as they head to the voting station in their neighborhood Medina in Dakar to vote.

The episode continues in the immediate aftermath of the election, as people are sensing that Abdoulaye Wade may have won a slim majority in the election and avoided a run-off election.

Sen Kumpa close this episode with their track "Niawal"

Also featured are interviews with Sen Kumpa, Serigne Ndiaye, Matador (Wa BMG 44), Waa Complex Culture, and Leopold Senghor; as well as performances by: Matador, Sen Kumpa, Baat Sen, Waa Complex Culture, and Leopold Senghor.

Democracy in Dakar, Episode 2
"Freedom of Speech"

In the second installment of this documentary series, several of the main candidates for President in Senegal are introduced against a backdrop of the campaigning on the street and the perspective of hip-hop crews from across Dakar.

The optimism that accompanies most elections is tempered with the reality of the emerging democracy in Senegal, including the suppression of criticism of the government, both through brute intimidation and more subtle means (bribery, lack of airplay, etc).

Episode 2 closes with the song "Yaa Tey" by Xuman, one of the most prominent political rappers from the group Pee Frois.

Vote for us on Current TV!

Watch the episode on Brightcove!

The first episode of African Underground: Democracy in Dakar is now available to watch worldwide!

Nomadic Wax and Sol Productions have just finished filming the first of 8 mini documentaries on location in Dakar Senegal documenting the role of hip-hop in their up and coming elections which are slated for February 25th 2007.

This first episode sets the stage explaining the realities of life in Dakar, the role of hip-hop in the 2000 elections and brings us into the current state of modern Dakar, hip-hop, youth and politics.

Featuring interviews with:

Keyti (classic Senegalese MC from groups such as Rapadio and the Dakar All-stars)
Eye Witness (underground MC from the Wa Geble crew)
Tigrim Bi (underground hip-hop crew from Pickine)
Birima Fall (Senegalese journalist/academic)
Baat Sen (Griot/Reggae singer)

You can watch the entire first episode here!

Episode 1 Credits:

African Underground: Democracy in Dakar
Produced By:
Nomadic Wax and Sol Productions

A Nomadic Wax/African Underground Project – Ben Herson
Filmed and Edited by Magee McIlvaine and Chris Moore

Featuring interviews with:
Keyti (Rapadio, Dakar All-stars)
Eye Witness (Wa Geble/Two Thou Productions)
Tigrim Bi
Baat Sen

Featuring music from African Underground: Depths of Dakar Produced by Ben Herson (Nomadic Wax and Dan Cantor (Notable Productions)
Intro Music by: Benny Beats (Nomadic Wax
Mixed by Dan Cantor (Notable Productions)
Closing Song: Omzo ‘Li Guen Pt 2′
Produced by: Benny Beats and Dan Cantor

Thanks to:

Abdou Diop, Vivi Lapidus, Pape Cheikh, Bocar Sy, Serigne Cheikh, Keyti and Sandy, Dan Cantor, Gwendolyn Hopkins, Erich Ludwig, Breese McIlvaine, Brian Mencher, Waa Diop, Waa Teuw, Waa Sicap, Waa Thiaroy, Waa Geble, Waa Pickine

Eye Witness appears courtesy of Two Thou Productions (Norway) and Wa Geble (Thiaory)

African Underground and Nomadic Wax are registered trademarks of Nomadic Wax LLC. All rights reserved.

Democracy in Dakar is a collaborative project of Nomadic Wax and Sol Productions.

Episode 2 will launch Sat February 24th!

Technorati Tags: Senegal, Election, Hip-Hop, Youth, Rap, BBC, NPR, Nomadic, Wax, Notable, Hip-Hop, Documentary, Film, Herson, Cantor, Mcilvaine, Hip-Hop, Democracy, Globalization, Africa, Islam, West Africa, Revolution, New Media, Global Hip-Hop, African Hip-Hop, Benny Beats, Sen Kumpa