King of Africa

  

Uganda’s Hip Hop scene began in the early to mid-1990s, especially among university students at Makerere University and elsewhere. Of the pioneers are The Bataka Squad who originated the Lugaflow style, using the native Luganda language. Other formative groups in the early 90s include Young Vibrations, MC Afrik, DJ Berry, and Kaddo.

Today in Uganda, Hip Hop is the catalyst of a more uplifting project trying to break the chain of conflicts that a lot of Ugandans have grown up with. The Breakdance Project Uganda offers free breakdance classes to anyone who wishes to learn, as well as aiming to empower the youth and children using breakdance and Hip Hop. It was started by Abramz Tekya (Ugandan Hip Hop artist and breakdancer), Emile Dineen (Irish breakdancer) and Antonio (Ugandan breakdancer).

Click here for more on Breakdance Project Uganda, and to check some Ugandan steet breakdanceclick here and here. 

This energy and enthusiasm is the subject matter of Brett Mazureks’s documentary “Diamonds in the Rough”, which offers a raw glimpse of urban Africa through the eyes of five emerging Hip Hop artists. They teach us how to make the best of life against the odds and how to create opportunities through positivity. To be produced by Subterranean Network.com & Moving Talking Pictures.

YouTube link to promo for “Diamonds in the Rough”. 

Also of interest:

Tags: Culture, hiphop, Music, uganda

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