1ST AFRICAN GLOBAL HIP HOP SUMMIT - JOHANNESBURG 20 -21 OCTOBER '05 | FLY

UN-Habitat understands the power of hip hop as a major communication tool in the worst urban ghettos on the planet. It has grabbed the challenge of getting the main public, private and local decision makers to discover the positive and constructive aspects of hip hop and to work directly with and for the urban youth.

Last year during the World Urban Forum in Barcelona the Messengers of Truth Programme was launched with 10 socially committed hip hop bands from all over the world. This created a unique artistic, cultural and social event followed the next day by an amazing discussion around a Declaration of Principles and Call for Action. One of the most striking positive forces present were the South Africans who then decided to set the 1st Global African Summit.

Native Rhythm Productions run by Sipho Sithole, who is also one of the directors of the biggest South African record company Gallo Music Group, has organised this Global hip hop summit and the Concert for Youth Under Siege in partnership with UN-Habitat. It is mobilizing all the media and local authorities, not only to help raise awareness and funding needed in support of local youth development initiatives, but also to highlight hip hop as a social and political movement and as a socio-economic power. The discussions are targeting the hottest and most painful subjects affecting African youth such as war, HIV and urban ghettos as well as professional development issues.

The panels, exhibitions, showcases, films and games give another (and lighter) platform for expression and promotion.

Finally, the Concert For Youth Under Siege is bringing together artists from all over Africa: Breeze, Young Nations, Zuluboy, Hip hop Pantsula, Pro Verb, Pro Kid and Tumi & the Volume fom South Africa; Randy P and Lady B from Cameroon; Gidigidi Majimaji from Kenya. Kohinoor from Bangladesh; DJ Awadi (ex Positive Black Soul) from Senegal; Emmanuel Jal from Sudan and K’Naan from Somalia/Canada. Guru will conclude this Party with a Purpose.

Big up to Sipho Sithole from Native Rhythm productions and Nicholas You from UN-Habitat for this new fantastic “Messenger of Truth” initiative! We wish we could be there and talk to you more about the content of the discussions and the concert…

Links:
Summit brief
Messengers of Truth Programme
DJ Awadi (ex Positive Black Soul)
Emmanuel Jal
K’Naan

I JUST WANNA THANK THE MASTER MIND BEHIND THE SUMMIT AND I THINK DIS MADE A MAJOR IMPACT ON SOUTH AFRICAN HIP HOP CATS.DIS IS JUST WHAT WE NEED SHOWS LIKE DIS WIL DEFINETELY PROVE TO THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE OFFICES WITH BIG BUCK THAT WE ARE DEFINITEY SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE R DOIN.BCAUSE I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE R IN SHORT OF IS SPONSERS,IN ORDER 4 S.A’S HIP HOP 2 MOVE FORWAD WE NEED 2 B SPONSERED SO WE CAN DO MORE OTHER SHOWS.ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK THE HIP HOP TRIBE NEEDS IS DAT NEED TO DO AS MANY SHOWS THEY CAN CAUSE THEY CAN’T EXPECT PEOPLE IN LIMPOPO TO STOP BUYING EMINEM CD’S WHERE’S THEY DO NOTHING TO CONVINCE THEM TO BUY THEY’RES INSTEAD OF BUYIN THOSE OF EMINEM’S.THEY NEED TO DO MORE PROMOTIONAL TOURS AROUND 9 PROVINCES.DEY MUST CONCENTRATING ON GAUTENG ,DURBAN,CAPE TOWN AND NORH WEST I THINK DAT WILL DO A LIL’GOOD TO THEIR MUSIC CAREERS.DESSY A.K.A VILLIAN

We lyk what you guys doin over the world, its rockin,Sipho sthole mfana kithi keep it up.

So may i ask a huge favour, if can get an appointment cause i/we in hip-hop,me and ma brother needs information and 2 start up the beats please we can make it.

please contact sizwe/samkelo to 076 111 7792/079 901 6722 please

THANK YOU,CHEERS.

i am also a rapper but from zim and i belive this is most proberbly what hip hop needs , and if possible more . i will definatly be there 2 check yall out on stage . coz this will be tha first eva big hip hop thang i have ever been 2, juss kip kipin it real. blissair

Wassup homies? Not to be long Ima rapper very young and would love to perform in big gigs as well and bless the nation.
I hope I get this opportunity one day. For now I will keep pushin hard.
Cheers to ya’ll.