Hip Hop for Democracy in Africa: Two Amazing mixtapes

Nomadic Wax, a fair-trade international hip hop label as well as film, music, and event production company has launched another thought provoking and insightful look into the role hiphop in African politics following the success of their film, ‘Democracy in Dakar’

This time they are out with ‘Democracy in Burundi’ and ‘Big up GB’, two mini-mixtapes focusing on youth and equality in Burundi and Guinea-Bissau.

The concept for the ‘Democracy in Burundi’ was born after journalist-turned-politician Alexis Sinduhije was illegally incarcerated in November 2008. In response, emcees from Nomadic Wax have collaborated with presidential hopeful Sinduhije’s political party, the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD), to present this mixtape. The compilation features hip hop artists from Senegal, to Morocco, to Angola, to the United States, and more. It is an example of how youth can organize through music and bring about change in their respective communities.

Download Democracy in Burundi

Sinduhije was released from prison in March 2009; however, the message of this compilation remains relevant as his candidacy in the 2010 presidential elections continues to be highly contested by the Burundian government. This Mixtape includes performances by: Alfaress (Morocco, Infinite (USA), Baay Musa (Senegal) , Yardsteppa (Zimbabwe), Diamondog(Angola)

On the other side of the continent, seven emcees and two record labels refused to be discouraged by or complacent to the political assassinations that struck Guinea-Bissau. In response to the June 5th killings of presidential candidate Baciro Dabó and Member of Parliament Helder Proença, Nomadic Wax and Cobiana Records joined forces to produce the Big Up GB mixtape.

Download Big Up GB