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Hip-hop is arguably one of the most influential cultures in the history of the World. It is a connector for youth across race, ethnicity, income, and geographic boundaries.
HIP-HOP COLONY, the documentary film takes you through a journey into the heart of East Africa, Kenya a former British colony, where hip-hop has firmly established its roots amongst the local citizens. HIP-HOP COLONY takes an intimate look at African Hip-hop while establishing its genesis in Kenya.
This film is about the Hip-hop movement in Kenya. “Hip-hop Colony”, draws the title from the fact that the colonial era in Africa had a critical inspiration in the present African culture. Africa today, despite being free and independent, is still under the influence of a new breed of global colonization by the Hip-hop culture. Parallel to the colonial era in Africa, American mainstream Hip-hop continues to invade traditional cultures around the world through its powerful influence.
Hip-hop in Kenya manifests in music and clothing styles that imitate the pattern of growth in the United States. Kenyan Hip-hop is remarkably similar to Hip-hop in the U.S. because countries most connected to the American media are quickly influenced by the culture.
Currently, Hip-hop is found in all corners of the earth. In most cases, it starts as a form of imitation of what is heard coming from America and develops into something that is no longer just Hip-hop, but a hybrid art form incorporating the native cultures.
Hip-hop Colony is a good example of what scholars call ‘Mash Culture’. This is the idea that two or more cultures can come together creating a new culture while retaining distinct elements from each culture.
Drawing from their own cultural traditions, the rappers and producers of Kenya started to develop their own form of music, no longer imitating or copying what was coming from the United States. Artists in Kenya now make their own music in their native tongues, creating an innovative style of music that is completely new to the world. This unique genre of music is what has come to be known as “Genge Music” in Kenya, “Bongo flavor” in Tanzania, “Kwaito” in South Africa among others.
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