Category: Benin
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HHAP EPISODE 59: Moonaya on Dakar’s hip hop collectives, hip hop Pan Africanism, & Western imperialism in Africa.
Moonaya is an extremely talented MC in one of the strongest hip hop scenes in the world. A Pan Africanist, her background represents her political views. Moonaya is originally from Benin, but she grew up in Senegal. While her father is Senegalese, her mother is Togolese, and one of her grandmothers was Nigerian. She grew…
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Dibi Dobo: Representing Benin
Dibi Dobo, one of Benin’s top hip-hop artists, has exceptional skill in his use of language. Rather than simply switch between his native tongue (Fon) and French as many other artists do, Dibi Dobo mixes Fon, French, and English in his songs. This is a deliberate choice, one reflecting the artist’s desire to incorporate traditional…
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Moona: Representing Her Perspective
Moona (or also known as Moonaya), a Beninese hip hop artist currently living in Senegal, represents uncommon themes and unheard struggles in her music. Moona was born in Benin, and moved to Senegal for her studies. Despite living in Dakar, Moona is well known in the Beninese scene and represents Benin in the West African…
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Cynicism and Reality in Hip Hop
Diamant Noir, a Beninese rap group, released the song Notre Monde in 2006. Notre Monde is sung in French and discusses a variety of social and political messages. Central to the song is a concept of blackness, and how that struggle is linked to oppression worldwide. Overall, a pervading theme of cynical analysis runs throughout…
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Beninese Hip Hop and Activism: E-Ray
A longtime veteran of Benin’s scene, Régis Ezin ‘E-Ray’ is an Beninese activist rapper not afraid to speak out on social issues. His discography, ranging from 2005 to 2015, repeats his core messages of social change and personal progress. He released his first single in 2005 and has continued since. Recently, he has released singles…
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Artist Music Review: “KMG” and “Yung Swiss”
I had the pleasure to review a song under Kalakuta music, which is the only Pan African and bilingual record label in the Ivory Coast.