Ep 102: Simon of Y’en a Marre on Hip Hop, Activism, & the New Senegalese
In this episode, we talk with Simon, rapper and co-founder of Y’en a Marre, the Senegalese movement that turned hip hop into a force for political change. Simon reflects on the group’s impact during the 2011 elections, their call for a “New Type of Senegalese,” and his new project Rapping History, which uses hip hop…
In this episode, we talk with Simon, rapper and co-founder of Y’en a Marre, the Senegalese movement that turned hip hop into a force for political change. Simon reflects on the group’s impact during the 2011 elections, their call for a “New Type of Senegalese,” and his new project Rapping History, which uses hip hop to decolonize education and reclaim African narratives.
“We realized the fight was not only political — it was also about changing mentality.”
Simon
Simon discusses his early introduction to hip hop and political awareness through Public Enemy and The Roots, the creation of Y’en a Marre and their role in mobilizing youth during Senegal’s 2011 elections, the idea of the “New Type of Senegalese (NTS)” — reshaping national consciousness. He also discusses government backlash, arrests, and personal risk in political hip hop activism
“Patriotism is not just voting; it’s wearing, eating, and building African.”
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