The Africa Tour Recap. Lagos + AccraWe recently returned from the Hip Hop: The New World Order Africa Screening Tour with premiere screenings in Lagos and Accra. Although we filmed the documentary in 8 international cities (Tokyo, Havana, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, & Johannesbug), we didn’t film in West Africa so it was important to engage with the artists, pioneers and cultural influencers who are the foundation of the vibrant hip hop scene in Anglophone West Africa. Screenings were presented at Goethe Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach.
In Lagos, we partnered with entertainment powerhouses Storm 360 and Now Muzik En.Core to produce a lively presentation of the film and post-screening Q&A featuring media personality, Andre Blaze (Nigeria's Got Talent), one of Nigeria’s most talented MC’s, Vector Tha Viper, entertainment journalist, Osagie Alonge (Nigerian Entertaiment Today), and director, Muhammida El Muhajir. The panelists were all quite versed on the history and evolution of hip hop in Nigeria and passionate about its future.
After making the necessary talent and brand connections for the event, the NowMuzik Team of Chief ExecutiveEfe Omoregbe, and Helen Abutu, Head, En.core had to travel but left us in good hands with Daniel & Phenom who were truly a pleasure to work with and coordinated all details of production along with the accommodating Goethe Institute staff, Director, Marc-André Schmachtel and Programming Coordinator, Derin Ajao.
The following day we visited the offices of Storm 360 to meet with chairman, Obi Asika, a creative visionary who is at the forefront of driving urban entertainment across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. Storm 360 offices/studio was like a who’s who of Nigerian hip hop all-stars and we came across artists such as DJ Neptune, Ghost of Show Dem Camp, and executives Nkiru Asika and Tola Odunsi.
CLICK HERE FOR LAGOS PREMIERE PHOTOS
Later that afternoon after a short 1 hour flight, we landed in Accra to do it all again. Our first screening was held under the stars in the courtyard of Goethe Institut Accra and was attended by Ghanaian hip hop royalty who also participated in the post-screening discussion: Reggie Rockstone, the “grandpapa” of the Hip Life music/movement and heavyweights D-Black, hip hop artist, producer, entrepreneur, and United Nations (U.N) Celebrity Ambassador in Ghana and E.L., a chart topping, award winning MC and producer who also holds an economics degree!
Our Accra event partners included Aretha/Global Fusion Productions and Unknown Collection, whose principal, Christa Sanders also coordinated our social calendar including post-screening reception at Reggie Rockstone’s uber classy lounge, Rockstone’s Office/Django Bar.
The following day we held a screening with the alternative creative producers/collective, Accra{dot}Alt at their monthly Talk Party Series at Passions Café in Osu (Many Thanks to Sionne Neely + Team + NYU Accrastudent volunteers). Director Muhammida El Muhajir joined cultural influencers Ato Annan, a Ghanaian artist active both on the local and international markets and Kobby Graham, a professor, DJ and writer for a post-screening discussion about the film and how art and music can make movements.
The after-party was held at Republic where things popped off when DJ Kobby got the party started with none other than a Notorious BIG tune! Christa had a full agenda for the evening activities which also included stops at La Villa Boutique Hotel, Movenpick Hotel, Golden Tulip, and The Shisha Lounge where we connected with movers & shakers including Kweku Ansah (Canoe Magazine), Benjamin Lebrave (Akwaaba Music), photographer Obodai Nii, designer/event producer Makeba Boateng, Khash Sunday (Primus Security Limited), and Nana Kwame Bediako among others.
CLICK HERE FOR ACCRA PREMIERE PHOTOS
The Africa trip was a thrilling adventure into the sights and sounds of “New Africa”. The development is happening at lightening fast speed. Our trip revealed young Africans as media savvy, art/design focused, global thinking, Afro-futurists, Afropolitans who are urgently intent on positioning Africa in its rightful place as a leader on the global landscape. Hip Hop is playing a major role in establishing a foundation, platform and voice for young artists, entrepreneurs and cultural influencers who are creating a new vision and aesthetic for the new Africa. We are reminded that in fact, Hip Hop IS The New World Order.
Join us at a special private viewing in Brooklyn on Wednesday, November 20th @ 7pm (Location provided upon RSVP info@hiphopisglobal.com).
RENT/OWN Hip Hop: The New World Order at http://hiphopisglobal.com
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