HIP HOP
NASH
Nash was the first person to shake my hand as I walked out of the terminal the day we arrived in Abidjan. With a charming smile and a firm handshake, she said in English: “My name is Nash. N – A – S – H, Nash”. Her face looked familiar and later I remembered that I saw her online when I was researching this area. She is pretty much a local hip-hop hero and can be found on youtube. I am excited: I’ve never met a real African B girl.
Nash lets me come with her to her family home and accompany her to TV appearances and radio interviews. She does her best to show me modern life in Abidjan for a hard working independent woman who’s well versed in using modern-day tools like email, youtube and sms, as well as charm, to spread her name. I am impressed and touched.
She seems real supportive of what I do and I LOVE what she does. We share a love for hip-hop - the music, the style, the attitude and the sneakers. We become friends.
In this world where everything is divided into South and North, black and white, you name it, this kind of exchange is rare and very special to me. I guess that’s sisterhood.
PRISS-K
She has had a career as a singer since a young age. People in Abidjan remember her as the girl that sang with Alpha Blondy. Now she’s grown up into a beautiful independent woman, who is outspoken and likes a challenge.
Abidjan is known for being the music capital of West Africa. Many people try to make it as a musician and there are as many producers as artists. In the local landscape producers get to control the music and the artist’s image, pocketing the lion’s share of any money made and putting the artist in a helpless position. Priss-K is determined to do it her own way: “I am my own producer” she announces, “so you have to talk to no one but me”.
It will be a hard road to take but Priss-K confidently tells me: “We African women have been putting our heads down for too long, things are getting better but they are still too far from being ok”. Her travels taught her that there are other ways. Hip-hop is but one thing she adopted along the way.
She’s a busy lady and sadly we don’t get the chance to hook up too often during my stay, but I’m glad I came to visit her. “Come into my ghetto” is the name of one of the songs she is recording for her debut album. I admire her and eagerly await the album’s release – go Priss-K!