Calabash Exclusive: African Underground - Democracy in Dakar, Episode 1

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Our friends at Nomadic Wax are in Senegal this month producing a unique documentary film, called 'African Underground: Democracy in Dakar', showing how local hip-hop is shaping the current Presidential Election. Each week they are sending back 5-10 minute video segments. This "real-time" documentary style allows for immediate discussion of music and politics in Senegal. Upon their return, these segments will be made into a full length documentary.

'Democracy in Dakar' evolved from Nomadic Wax founder, Ben Herson's, original trip to Senegal, where he recorded African Underground: Hip-Hop Senegal -- an album filled with deeply political hip-hop recorded at a time when local rappers actually helped to elect the new president, Abdoulaye Wade, in the year 2000. The new documentary also promises to focus on the intersection of hip-hop and politics in Senegal, and although Wade is running again, this time he lacks support from the hip-hop community.

Each week we'll feature a new segment from the documentary.  Episode 1 sets the stage by explaining the realities of life in Dakar, the role of hip-hop in the previous 2000 election and introduces 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). 

Exclusive Release: The soundtrack to this documentary is drawn from the new album African Underground: Depths of Dakar, and is available exclusively on Calabash. So you can get the music as the film unfolds...

Listen To African Underground: Depths of Dakar

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Contributed by:  African Underground

Senegal, African Underground, Depths of Dakar, Tigrim Bi,