Local hip-hop artists are set to benefit from an initiative meant to facilitate international tours and exchange programmes.REPORT BY SIMBARASHE MANHANGO Dubbed the African Hip-hop Caravan, the expedition is an initiative of popular poet Biko Mutsaurwa in partnership with the Chitungwiza Community Development Network.
The tour is a moving carnival that will see hip-hop artists from Africa interchanging ideas and sharing the stage with American stars.
These artists will also participate in workshops and debate on how to develop the industry.
As part of the programme, concerts will be held in countries like Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa, Nairobi and Zimbabwe.
The proceeds generated from the concerts will be channelled to benefit selected communities.
In an interview with StandardLife&Style, Mutsaurwa said the objective was to address the welfare of local artists in several ghettos in Africa and necessitate a platform whereby artists can express themselves freely.
“This is a movement meant to promote the efforts of artists trying to break-through in the main stream music arena,” said Mutsaurwa.
“We will also host conversations in hip-hop to bring about transformations in the arts sector. After the tour we will publish an anthology and DVD that contains all the activities we are set to engage in.”
Concerts will be held in cities that include Johannesburg, Dakar and Tunis.
The last concert will be held in Harare at 7Arts Theatre.
“We shall also engage the university students from University of Cape Town, Wits University and the University of Zimbabwe to select a couple of students that are interested in hip-hop and who have the talent.”
The tour, set to begin in February next year, kicks off in Harare with a caravan of 20 members headed for SA where they will link up with the American stars to set the ball rolling.
