Scene Shifters -- Hip-Hop, Digital Media, and Social Change in Kampala, Uganda

BY Prof. Scott Macklin
One may say that Hip Hop moves masses. But the question arises, is it a movement that amasses moves that matter? In this presentation we will strive to demonstrate movements that are having deep impact. In March of 2014, we traveled to Kampala, Uganda to participate in the Obumu Media Lab dedicated to hip-hop and digital media education. While there, we connected with and facilitating workshops for youth dedicated to community-centric storytelling, hip-hop journalism, video-editing and entrepreneurship.

In the eyes and ears of young people, hip-hop is undoubtedly the most popular form of African American music in our country right now and arguably the world. But what successes and pitfalls are created when this indigenous African American music genre is used as a vehicle for social change in Africa, particularly in a country as politically charged as Uganda? The flipside of that is Uganda is also a country where a whopping 78% of the population is under the age of 30. That's a lot of young people and many of them are listening to and or creating hip-hop music.