After slowing office productivity around the world, the evolution of the “Harlem Shake” – from a dance to a song, to a viral video craze – took the pelvis dance into a new dimensions: at the end of last February, hard line Salafi fundamentalists tried to stop the recording of a Harlem Shake video at a language school in Tunis.
After the death of Shokri Belaid, the leader of the opposition movement, Tunisia has been thrown back into turmoil and many international observers have became more skeptical about positive consequences of the so-called “Arab Spring” in this Country.
Egypt is living now in a difficult transition phase. After the Tahrir revolution and the so-called “Arab Spring” many national and international observers showed enthusiasm. They talked about the end of Mubarak’s regime and the rise of a new Egyptian democracy. But the way to democracy is always longer than people – directly involved in the revolution – may expect.
When we talk about Hip Hop in Italy – as well as in other European countries -, our mind goes to a group of young men with too many tattoos. They speak at the rhythm of a music that people over 50 cannot understand. In reality Hip Hop is more than music for the youngest.
MY TRUTH – Perhaps Hip Hop in the North African-Mediterranean Countries needs more attention as a tool for dialogue and change not only in time of revolution. The North African young generations have many things to say also now and we have to listen to their voice, their sound, their music, their hybrid culture of Hip Hop.
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