Senegalese Hip Hop - Dakar: Rise of Hip Hop

Dakar: Rise of Hip Hop

Picture this: Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and rightfully the birth place of Hip Hop into the country. Imagine it clearly, schools, homes, stores, restaurants, and people. You hear what you think is American rap, but you listen closely and identify that the rappers are rapping in their native language. What you hear is the combination of, “…traditional instruments, African hip hop artists using the music to talk about many crises facing African society, from corruption and HIV/AIDS to ethnic strife and poverty.” This is your first account of hip hop in Senegal. Fortunately, this same hip hop scene has gained noticed in America. “It’s to build a bridge connecting Africa with what’s going on in the United States.” While musicians from Senegal strive to make gains for the country, their work is not going unnoticed.

What sets aside the music of Senegal apart from many other place is its use of instruments. The most widely used instrument that the Senegalese use is the drum. Also, of importance is the language that these artists rap and sing in. Being that Senegal was colonized by the French is why we see some people develop their sound and rap entirely in French. Others choose to rap in Wolof, or English. “Wolof is the most widely spoken language of northern Senegal and it has rich and ancient musical culture performed by hereditary musicians (gewel).” Not to mention the fact that there sound is a collection from previous cultures and music styles infused in the Hip Hop culture. These are just some of the features you will only find in Senegalese Hip Hop.