Senegal is located on the West coast of Africa and has a population of more than 16 million people, according to the World Bank. In recent years, Senegal has been recognized as one of the most stable West African countries and has witnessed a reduction in its poverty rate, which dropped by roughly 5% between 2011 and 2018. Still, more than half of Senegal’s population is now living below the poverty line, and the country scored low in the 2018 Human Development Index, ranking 164 out of 189 countries, according to Oxfam.

As suggested by projections, social and economic could intensify following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, frequent natural disasters and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which have severely disrupted food supply chains. This, coupled with a high food inflation rate of 15% as of 2022, is pushing families deeper into poverty.

But Senegalese youth are fighting the system through the power of music — and hip-hop in particular.

Music and Poverty

The hip-hop scene has long been a vibrant and lively part of Senegalese culture. Originally, hip-hop was adopted by the upper and middle classes who had traveled to places like the U.S. and Europe, giving Senegalese hip-hop its distinct hybrid blend of local tradition and international influences.

In the early 1980s, the suburbs of the prosperous Senegalese city Dakar expanded, allowing people from poor, rural areas to move to the city, where they could flee severe drought and forge new lives for themselves. Immigration to Dakar brought with it new material culture from all over the world, and this included clothing, music and dance trends.

After the 1980s, social disparities in Senegal increased following decades of harsh government austerity measures that had left the government unable to provide robust health and social services. Gaining influence from the beats of South Bronx, hip-hop the poor used hip-hop to protest issues such as poverty, unemployment, crime and political corruption.

Discontent with the political system came to a head in 2011, and the Y’en a Marre movement (which translates to “I’m fed up”) was formed by rappers and journalists to persuade Senegalese youth to protest the Conservative government led by President Wade, who, according to them, had been acting undemocratically during his time in power.

Hip-hop has been especially important for connecting geographically dispersed communities, with 70% of those 18 and older living in rural areas where poverty rates are often much higher.

In such areas, the vulnerability rate of Senegalese families, which is the probability of a household falling into poverty following a shock such as a natural disaster or a disruption to supply chains, is a staggering 80%.

Girls and Hip-Hop

While Senegalese hip-hop has largely been associated with popular male artists and bands such as King & Cool, Positive Black Soul and Supreme Black, who are accredited for leading the movement, Senegalese girls are determined to show that they can rap too.

Sisters Create is a project in urban Dakar that was founded by Plan International, and it aims to unite girls from poor neighborhoods and give them the opportunity to protest the social issues they face. Not only do they rap about the problems of Senegalese politics, but they are keen to shed light on their shared experiences of menstruation, gender inequality and sexual assault.

The Genji Hip Hop group has about 70 members who express themselves through music and art, and it has organized many events and workshops for women to speak up against the system. This has been important as women in Senegal are the main victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and are economically disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts. U.N. Women reported that 33.3% of employed women were living below the international poverty line compared to 26.7% of men.

The Beat Goes On

Currently, Senegalese artists are utilizing hip-hop music to promote peacebuilding ahead of the 2024 elections. They stress the significance of human security and urge the government to prioritize reducing poverty, ensuring civil rights and enhancing food security.

The case of Senegalese hip-hop demonstrates that through the power of music, present-day youths are successfully using their voices to stand up for their rights, pushing their governments to do what is necessary.

– Tatum Richards
Photo: Flickr