------------------------- ::: Featured rappers ::: -Mr II (2 Proud) -Deplowmatz -X Plastaz -Fortune Tellers -G.W.M. -Ras Pompidou -Gangwe Mob -Sos-Bi -Underground Souls -Cool Para -P-Funk (Halfani) -Experts from Radio Tanzania, P.S.I. and the Tanzanian Arts Council ------------------------- ------------------------- ::: Our TZ Hip Hop ::: Tanzanian Crews A-Z Update (99) Update (98) Producers (97) Bantu Pound :: INTERVIEWS :: Bonnie Luv Hashim Mack-D Master J Sos-B		HALI HALISI - "the real situation" In June 1999, the Dutch Madunia foundation filmed Hali Halisi, a 30-minute video documentary about rap in Tanzania (East Africa). Now in collaboration with AKA.com, we present online viewing of selected parts of the documentary. The video Hali Halisi (a Swahili expression meaning "the real situation") portrays rap as an alternative medium in Tanzania. Rappers and experts give their views on the emerging hip hop scene in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania), and their thoughts on the importance of rap as a medium for communication. In many African countries hip hop is becoming more and more important to the urban youth. The music and the life style it symbolises are appealing to them, and in the nineties rap has become a soundtrack to their lives. Through rap lyrics young people in Africa express their views on their own situation, their living conditions, ideals and problems. Many African rappers aim at educating their audience, they see it as important to educate their listeners about issues such as aids, unemployment, corruption, democracy etc. Tanzanian rapper Dola Soul in an interview featured in Hali Halisi: 'Hiphop shouldn't be all about 'I shot your mom, fuck your dad. People are dying out there in the streets, people are executed in countries. We want to bring out messages in our raps and tell the people what is going on and how we can change the world to make it a better place to live in.' Since many lyrics are rapped in local languages, the importance of rap music as an alternative medium besides newspapers, radio and television increases. Rap has become a medium, with roots in the oral tradition of Africa. Rap can be an important alternative medium. In many African countries young people make out for more than half the population. Young people in Africa are also pretty invisible in (western) media. Their views and thoughts hardly play a role in the coverage of Africa. And when young people are subject of an article or report, it is in a negative sense: as child soldiers, as victims, as petty thieves or hustlers. Journalists hardly ever refer to young people when reporting. Medium for the youth There are more reasons why journalists should take more interest in opinions of the younger generation. Intervention concerning problems like aids, unemployment, violence and drug abuse, starts with the youth. However, communication about these problems will have to go through media that are suitable for young people. Newspapers, magazines and educational radio are not always the best media, while special media for youth are scarce, too expensive, or hardly reach their audience. Media like rap music are hardly taken into account. Music gets everywhere, it is not hampered by illiteracy of the receiver or bad distribution. There is already a number of organisations that see the importance of rap music. UNESCO in Mali financed the production of a rap cassette with a rapped motivation to vote, and UNICEF in Tanzania uses rappers to spread messages about Aids. Hip hop in Tanzania The documentary gives an impression of rap in Tanzania. Through interviews rappers talk about their thoughts on the importance of rap music. Tanzania has had a thriving hip hop scene since the early nineties, and many emcees rap in Swahili, the most important language in the region. For extensive info about the local hip hop, see our Tanzanian hip hop pages and online realaudio tracks. Credits 'Hali Halisi' was produced by the Madunia foundation, in commission of the Scherpenzeel Media Foundation. The video was made on not-for-profit basis and copies are distributed against cost price. Production: Martin Meulenberg & Thomas Gesthuizen (Madunia foundation) Local production: Ben Hewett Camera: Joost Kahmann Editing/subtitling: Patrick Pauwe Format: Colour, 30 minutes, PAL-VHS only		:::  V I E W I N G  ::: Notice: due to a server move, online viewing of the Hali Halisi video is not possible for the moment. Watch this space as we will soon upload the files to another server. ------------------------- ::: o r d e r i n g ::: The 'Hali Halisi' video is now available at cost price through the Scherpenzeel Media Foundation in Holland (U.S. customers beware: PAL VHS system only!). For enquiries about cost and shipping you can mail: video@madunia.nl