AURA Meets Youth in Dakar

Artistes Unis pour le Rap Africain (AURA), met on 26/11/2007 with students from Dakar School Lycee des Parcelles Assaines to discuss with them the relevance of their songs for the young people and learn from the youth their most burning problems.

AURA artists spreading their message in Dakar

About 150 boys and girls – delegates for their respective grades - from the school took part in the incisive session with popular performing artists such as Egalitarian, Big D and Senegalese female rap heroine Myriam.

Throughout the session the reaction of the children was fantastic; intelligent and insightful, they discussed with the panel about major issues concerning them. Popular Rapper Big D was surprised to hear that one of the first issues raised by assisting girl students was sexual harassment. “I never thought that this would be a problem also in this school – I remember my own time as a student here positively”.

AURA’s CD ‘Poto-poto’, introducing the fate of children from different backgrounds such as child soldiers, child prostitutes, domestic worker and others, has proved to be a revelation recently, having had a lasting impression on children and youth of Senegal/West Africa.

Youth in Dakar listening to AURA

 To find out what impact the songs have on young people’s life and to keep their messages at the pulse of young people’s realities, the rappers of AURA will meet with students and youth in a series of West African countries. In Lycee des Parcelles Assaines, children explained to the rappers that Poto-Poto was about positivity and child rights - a representation of the daily lives of West African children. One of the most telling views to come out of the session however, was the realisation for these children that they are playing an important part in constructing the Africa of the future. When asked what their aspirations were, the answer was clear from the children – a full and good education for themselves, but also all other children.

For more information on AURA read www.aurahiphop.com