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The power of music

May 3, 2023

In Kashmir, young people are turning to rap music to make their voices heard – but as of late, have been moving away from political topics. Rapper Obaz in Niger wants to use modern technology to help preserve Tuareg culture. And hip hop artist Miss Raisa and Quechuan singer Renata Flores are shaking things up.

https://p.dw.com/p/4Qqha

Giving Quechuan communities a voice

Renata Flores sings and raps in Quechua, the indigenous language of the Andean people, who've suffered discrimination. In one of her latest songs, she denounces police violence during the protests that's been rocking the South American country for months. She says the protests are driven by deep-rooted inequity that has defined Peru for centuries. Flores says she wants to shine a light on this almost forgotten part of Peruvian history through her music.

Report: Anne Herrberg, voiced by Neil King  

 

From rap and self-censorship in Kashmir

The volatile region of Kashmir in South Asia has been disputed between India and Pakistan since both countries achieved independence some 75 years ago. Since 2019, when the Indian government unilaterally revoked Kashmir's special autonomous status and imposed a media blackout on the region, many rappers began using their music for social messaging. But many say rappers are now self-censoring and avoiding overly political topics in fear of being questioned or harassed by the authorities.

Report: Murali Krishnan, Srinagar 

 

Shaking things up across cultures

Imane Raissali Salah was born in Tangier, Morocco, and came to Barcelona when she was eight. Since 2019, the 26-year-old has been a hip-hop artist under the moniker "Miss Raisa" and has built up a considerable following on social media platforms. When she wore a hijab, she was attacked for it; when she announced she was taking it off, there were attacks and threats because of it. When she advocated for the LGTBQ community, death threats followed.

Report: Franka Welz, voiced by Ben Restle

 

Sharing Tuareg culture in modern times 

Obaz, which translates to "little cousin," is a rapper from Niger who aims to merge his culture with his music. He raps about traditional themes like old Tuareg stories and the role of women. His goal is to blend Tuareg culture with modern rap and perform it on the international stage.

Report: Dunja Sadaqi, voiced by Ineke Mules

 

Sarah Steffen Author and editor with a keen interest on underreported crises.
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