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Journal Rappé continues European 'tour' at Long Night of Ideas

18 Jun 2020 - 10:04

After a successful premiere at the virtual edition of Munich Biennale 2020, Journal Rappé has now made its way onto the programme of the Long Night of Ideas – an initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office that presents a spectrum of its cultural relations and educational activities at prominent spaces in Berlin.

Senegalese rapper and social commentator Xuman during the filming of Journal Rappé's latest episodes. Photo: Journal Rappé

This year, the event's programming will be streamed online on 19 June due to the COVID-19 crisis, and Africa will be represented by Journal Rappé's 10 latest episodes, which were shot in Dakar, Senegal, and aired daily for the Munich Biennale in May.

Journal Rappé, hosted by Senegalese rappers Keyti and Xuman, is an original take on news and opinion making by employing hip hop as its medium of communication. Each of the 10 episodes carries striking visuals and specific themes, including gender, identity, post-colonialism, the African diaspora, and the COVID-19 pandemic from an African perspective.

The 10 episodes, which were made possible through a partnership between the Music In Africa Foundation, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut, have proved to be a hit and amassed about 1 million views via the Music In Africa Facebook page alone. Keyti and Xuman will now hope that their message reaches more eyes and ears with the inclusion of Journal Rappé on the Long Night of Ideas programme.

“The complete 10 episodes will take the audience through the journey of Africa from post-independence to the subject of Afrofuturism,” Keyti told Music In Africa. “What we want is to change Africa’s narrative when it comes to how the rest of the world sees the continent. We want to paint a picture of the Africa we know. We will not sugar-coat anything, it will be the reality we experience. Africa has its difficulties but Africa also has its promises of great things to come.”

Apart from Journal Rappé, the Long Night of Ideas, which hosted South African underground band BCUC in 2017, will present an eclectic line-up of readings, panel discussions and virtual visits to cinemas, clubs and sports halls. Of particular interest to cinephiles may be the Balkan Film Night – a carefully curated selection of movies from various Southeast European countries. The screenings will be accompanied by live chats and discussions with film directors, the Croatian curator and an author.

View the full Long Night of Ideas programme here.