Qlzim

Yohannes „Johnny“ Afeworki alias QlzlM is of Eritrean origin and was born in Khartoum, Sudan on March 31, 1980. Qlzim raps about racism, suffering, love and family – just life. He aims to deliver a message, mainly to the Tigrinya-speaking youth who've grown up abroad, to give them an understanding of the native language. Qlzim thus uses Hip-Hop, a convincing implement to reach the youth of today in a modern, accessible way.

Qlzim grew up in Germany, learning the language of both countries and above all never lost the relation to his origin. Qlzim thought about combining the love for his fatherland and the new home and now wants to help young people who share the same destiny, never to run the risk of loosing themselves in the discrepancy of two cultures.

At the end of 2004 Johnny a.k.a Klz-m and Samson a.k.a Sebab joined together in order to found the Tigrinja-Rap-group named SEDET. Out of initual trials – performing rap in their national language – a passion was soon developed. The singer Feven also shared this passion and so she decided to become the third member of SEDET at the beginning of 2005.

They proved their first accomplishments in freestyle, using several beats. But soon they started to write their own texts and produced their own beats, in order to unfold their creativity fully. For love of Hip Hop, R&B and Soul and of their culture, the idea – combining these elements and performing in their national language– developed.

The expression of their music among others, is the influence of different cultures, which had a huge impact on the three of them during their adolescence, which they spent in the region of Stuttgart.

SEDET especially addresses to people of their native land. In this way they try to return a part of their culture, which got lost for many of them who grew up in Europe or in America.

They share the experience – growing up between two cultures - with other youths and work up their experience in writing texts about this subject. They try to advance the relationship to their national language with their music. A further gain is to reach people of other nationalities, who share a similar destiny or who are able to put themselves in this position.

Meanwhile SEDET collaborates with several producers and other artists, not only of Stuttgart and the region of Stuttgart but also of foreign countries.