Over the past year I’ve become more and more aware of and fascinated by the nascent urban arts scene in Dakar. Both graffiti and hip hop have taken permanent root in the city and are beginning to spread to other urban areas around the country.
This spoken word video is an excellent example of the feel and tenor of this movement, and of a sentiment not uncommon in a segment Senegal’s young-ish population. It also carries some beautifully raw and accurate snapshots of everyday life in the heart of Senegal’s capital city. It’s an exciting and electric time to be in Senegal - the political and cultural climates are changing rapidly and a new kind of creative culture is developing in tandem.
As as aside: The above video is in Wolof, the ‘lingua franca’ of Senegal and the language in which I’ve been going about my daily life for the past two years. Just by watching that video you can get a feel of the rhythm and force of the language - one that lends itself incredibly well to both spoken word and hip hop. If you’re interested, check out Daara J, probably the most well-known Senegalese hip hop group - they’ve even been featured on All Things Considered!
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