Kenyan Hip Hop was initially regarded as a passing fad. Hip Hop
was eagerly dismissed by the media outlets and the general public during its shallow inception in the
early ninety’s. Hip-hop today has firmly gained its roots in Kenya, while fusing its traditional music
and drawing major influence from America. Hip Hop has found a bed in Kenya. Wanguhu explores the phenomenon
of 'Genge' - a musical explosion that is re-writing the history of East Africa as an up-swell of young
performers reclaim language and creativity as their own.
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Like a bible or dictionary, Hip Hop forms the backbone of a society emerging out
of the post-colonial soup, belted out of beat-thumping matatus, registered on the streets, understood "in
the blood." The artistes featured here find their voice in a way that only compares to the Rock and Roll
revolution forty years ago in the West. Wanguhu lets the practitioners speak for themselves of a Kenya
that is "not just about lions, giraffes and fast-running men" but crucially about youth making "something
out of nothing."
Filming the documentary in Kenya, Producer/Director Michael Wanguhu,enjoyed collaborative
efforts from top-notch Kenyan producers, and reigning hip-hop acts past and present, seeking to expose
a culture they have whole-heartedly embraced. The film is also punctuated with footage of engaging live
concert events. Hip-Hop Colony richly ties key elements of hip hop, flexibility and talent which
continue to increase its dominance around the World one colony at a time. |
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Director:
Michael Wanguhu
Producer:
Michael Wanguhu
Run Time: 96 minutes
www.hiphopcolony.com |
