Xolile 'X' Madinda, Hip-Hop Activist, Inspires Artists To Protest Social Injustice

Grahamstown, South Africa, is about 550 miles east of Cape Town. But, in this mid-size city of about 125,000 people, lives a rapper who's inspired musicians from all over the world to contribute to the "Officially Offside" album, a compilation of songs prortesting against social injustice.
Xolile 'X' Madinda is the man behind this project. His message is controversial. He's in favor of reparations for black South Africans from multi-national corporations.
From South Africa's "Daily Dispatch":

"The artists all did it for free ... they said if any money was made it should go to Khulumani," he said. "This is just another form of activism ... these issues must be out there, it is not about colour, it is about one voice."
Although born in 1979 -- three years after the Soweto Uprising - X says his generation still had meaningful contributions to make to society and the daily struggles faced by the oppressed.

International Day in Support of Victims / Survivors of Torture

On Saturday 26 June 2010, fifty-eight Khulumani members came together at Freedom Square in Kliptown, Soweto, to declare that they will never be silent, but will continue to speak out (khulumani) about torture and its devastating consequences on their lives. The members came from Mamelodi in Pretoria/Tshwane; Katlehong and Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni; Sharpeville and Sebokeng in Sedibeng; and from Soweto to remember the anniversary of the June 26, 1987 United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. (UNCAT).
The common thread running through the Khulumani members’ narratives was their experiences of torture. This is not surprising given that torture was condoned by all levels of the apartheid police and security apparatus in South Africa, not only to intimidate but to extract information from anti-apartheid activists.

For most survivors of torture, the major persistent consequence is a destruction of their capacity to establish and sustain meaningful and trusting interpersonal relationships. As torture survivor Peter Pitso Moletsane from Klerksdorp had explained in his testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): torture was designed to render its victims ‘unfit for life’. 
When survivors of torture come together to collectively speak out about the abomination of torture, they are making a stand for life, rather than for death. A declaration by victims of torture that they are committed to working together for a world free of torture, is a powerful reclamation of survivors’ agency.
Despite worldwide condemnation of torture and the existence of treaty provisions that forbid torture and that criminalise perpetrators of torture, torture still occurs in two thirds of the world’s nations, including those that promote themselves as ‘civilised nations’. In South Africa, there is evidence that torture is still practiced by our security forces today in situations of involuntary detention. For Khulumani, it remains a responsibility to continue to SPEAK OUT in the struggle to ‘wipe the scourge of torture from the face of the earth so that torture may finally be consigned to the darkest spaces of history’. (Kofi Annan, June 26, 1998)

The June 26 Khulumani Commemoration programme to remember our history; to honour those who lived this history; and to speak out to stop the use of torture in South Africa, demonstrates that what happens in small places out of the public gaze will increasingly be exposed and those who commit the crime of torture will be held accountable.
Torture is one of the crimes which the defendant companies in the South African apartheid litigation, Daimler, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, IBM and Rheinmetall, are accused of knowingly aiding and abetting – through their deliberate business dealings with the security forces of the apartheid regime.
The Khulumani Commemoration ended with the launch of the book, ‘All That Was Lost’ by Professor Cath Byrne. The book is dedicated to the memory of Khulumani founder member, the late Mr Duma Kumalo.

Duma Kumalo performing at a Khulumani Support Group event

Duma was sentenced to death based on a fellow Sharpeville resident’s false testimony which was extracted under torture. Although Duma was released from jail hours before he was due to be executed, justice has not been served. His name has still not been cleared, despite his testimony to the TRC and three applications to the Department of Justice for the expunging of his criminal record. Unfortunately Duma died unexpectedly on 3 February 2006 at the age of 48. Khulumani Support Group and Duma’s family believe that a posthumous order by the Minister of Justice or the President of South Africa to expunge his criminal record would be in order, and call on the Minister and the President to expedite this request.

Hip-hopper takes aim at big corporations

A WHITE South African hip-hop star has become a poster boy for an international campaign to help oppressed blacks sue multi-national corporations who supported the apartheid government.
Creamy Ewok Baggends – aka Fort Beaufort-born Iain Robinson – has even written a lengthy rhyme about the Fifa World Cup “rip-off” to raise awareness about the Khulumani Support Group and its landmark American lawsuit.
The hard-hitting wordsmith said the iron grip that the international governing body had over the game was the perfect example of how “small minorities control everything”. The companies being prosecuted by Khulumani in the US, he said, were “investors in the World Cup”.
Approached recently by Grahamstown-based Xolile “X” Madinda to put together a track for an international album about the Khulumani case, it took Ewok four days to get his powerful Shame on the Game together.
“I hope this becomes a broader campaign in South Africa to tackle injustice. It is not just about hip-hop. It is also about social awareness.”
The companies being sued include big names like IBM, Daimler AG, General Motors and Ford. – Daily Dispatch

INTERRNATIONALLY KNOWN drops A new mixtape

The first in a series of innovative mixtapes, Internationally Known: Volume 1 is proof that Hip-Hop is global. Artists from more than thirty nations were brought together to form a comprehensive album that represents the vast landscape of Hip-Hop culture. Artists on the mixtape rap in English as well as their native languages, sparking a climate of cultural exchange.

Conceived by Dumi RIGHT of PH MUSIC and Magee McIlvaine of Nomadic Wax and Magee Films, and mixed by Italy's DJ Nio, Internationally Known gathers material from some of the best Hip-Hop artists across the globe, in order to showcase the underground talent that has formed the
foundation for global Hip-Hop. Some of the artists include Zero
Plastica (Italy/Nigeria/Jamaica), Alfaress (Morocco), Wagëblë
(Senegal), and OBC (Burkina Faso).

Babaluku representing Luga flow At the Trinity Hip Hop Festival 2010

Photo By:http://www.roshankarmali.blogspot.com/

The project was a collaboration between Nomadic Wax, Zero Plastica, Basement Underground Studios, pH MUSIC, and Magee Films, organizations that are at the forefront of the global Hip-Hop movement. 

 

The mix tape will be distributed for free online and in limited amounts at shows and
festivals. It made make its debut at the Trinity International Hip-Hop
Festival in Hartford, CT on 9 April 2010.

Artists from Internationally Known are free to distribute the mixtape as they see fit in order to help spread the word about positive Hip-Hop culture, educating people and places that never would have experienced progressive, global Hip-Hop otherwise.

Nomadic Wax – Nomadic Wax is a fair-trade international record label and production company dedicated to producing and promoting
global urban music and media.
DJ Nio – Italian MC-Producer-DJ and Hip-Hop activist formerly of the underground rap group Zero Plastica. Nio works with Nomadic Wax spinning on NY Radio 91.5 fm and making beats for global artists.

Basement Underground Studios –Italy's premiere Hip-Hop and reggae studio providing beats, recordings, mixtapes, computer graphics, etc.
for local and international artists.
pH MUSIC, LLC – Founded with the goal of ensuring a sustainable
balance between the voices heard within the hip-hop movement, pH MUSIC
educates the public by utilizing the positive messages and stories of
progressive hip-hoppers from around the globe. pH Music provides a
conduit for recording, distribution and publishing of underground
hip-hop voices.

 

Babaluku show Internationally Known's mixtape at the Trinity Hi Hop Festival

For interviews, media inquiries, or for information about other projects, etc. please contact Nomadic Wax via Ben Herson at (917) 225-8472 or ben@nomadicwax.com, and Magee McIlvaine at magee@nomadicwax.com.

LUGA FLOW MOVEMENT

The LUGA FLOW MOVEMENT has went on to inspire youth allover Uganda to utilize the power of Hip Hop to bring back HOPE and RESTORATION in the hearts of the youth, giving them the confidence to take responsibility in being apart of the chage they want to see in their communities. This has egnited the spirit of community peace building and transformation within the youth who have grown up in ubarn settings by encouraging unity with those raised in the villages through the experience of the hip hop culture. www.bavubuka.org

THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF LIVES THROUGH HIP HOP IS EXHIBITED AT ITS BEST ON THIS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN HIP HOP MIX TAPE VENTURE ENJOY A FREE COPY AND SHARE WITH FANS FRIENDS AND FAMILY A CELEBRATION OF INDIGENOUS HIP HOP SHOWING LOVE BEYOND BORDERS.

ORDER THE MUSIC HERE:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/babaluku

 

Babaluku, a co-founder of The Bataka Squad and the visionary force behind The Bavubuka Foundation,he has taken up the challenge to create a positive voice for the youth, believing that it is time for revolutionary change in Uganda and Africa as a whole.

Bavubuka Community creating Space for the young Generation to Freely Express themselves

Born and raised in Uganda for the first 12 years of his life he has always remembered the beauty of his country through the eyes of his childhood. “While most people seem to know Uganda for its HIV epidemic, the abduction of child soldiers and its brutal political past, I have always known Uganda for its youthful untapped energy which has always given me strength and been my inspiration to bring hope to a generation that has survived to tell its story.

In Uganda at WAPI show

Babaluku is one of the pioneers of HIP HOP in Uganda and the originator of the Luga Flow. Motivated to innovate, Babaluku has fought to gain recognition rapping in his native tongue of Luganda. His
radical rhyming skills and revolutionary slogans have changed the overall view of hip-hop in Uganda. Slogans like “Akaffe Kabatuze” (what’s ours is for the people) and “Nkyaliwo” (I’m still here) have
spread through the city streets of Kampala and into the villages, setting a tone of social awareness.

Babaluku performing at WAPI show with Bavubuka ALL *Stars Emcess

His vision of using music to inspire the youth to get involved in activities of positive change in
their communities has brought new hope for the ghetto youth in Uganda. Under his guidance The Bavubuka Foundation has become a inspirational force on the streets and in the ghettos of Uganda, taking on projects that are designed to reach out to the youth and their mothers. Babaluku strongly believes that through his music a movement that represents peace, love, equality and unity will be established. Babaluku is dedicated to promoting all artists who rap in their native tongues in
Uganda. The aim is to help the young, talented youth of Uganda gain confidence in promoting their culture on a global scale. “Its time for our people to rise...the voice is global!.”

Buy this Luga Flow Compilation online http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/babaluku

 Special thanks to Bavubuka Emcees who have supported the community through teaching the young generation the write to do & setting Hip Hop Standards that know most Emcees in Uganda are following.

ENTER THE NEGUS WORLD MOVMENT ( HAITI MEETS UGANDA ON THE FRONTLINES)

The Bavubuka all*starz movement is always delighted in the concept of sharing and introducing community driven groups to the youth of Uganda for a global inspiration. To day I will start with a movement that has supported Bavubuka on this journey. Not only are they raising awareness on different social issues but they are also operating as grassroots agents of change not only in their homelands but also beyond the borders.

BAVUBUKA COMMUNITY IS PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH NEGUS WORLD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_96EDaBYtII&feature=related

NEGUS: Title of Ethiopian royalty from classical Ethiopic negus. King, Ruler.

NIGIST: Queen

Since the beggining of time, the human race has foiund every possible excuseto devide one another;from skin color to religion,native country to native toungue, and culturaltraditions to gender... the list goes on. so that in the end, aperson is judged by his appearance instead of his actions.

Too often, people take credit for what their ancestors accomplished,but not for what they themselves have done. We get so comfortable livig the life that constand propaganda dictates, that we don't take timeto stop, think and ask our selves: "whatdo i really stand for?" We worry so much about what the next man thinks,that we don't dare think outside of the box and go astray from traditional,common ways. We accept the things that major peer pressuretell us we are,or even should be.

WHAT IS A NEGUS WORLD?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdg6Sd_3is4

Its aboutunity. While never forgetting historical tragidies, such as slavery and the holocaust, whic are a source of social imbalance today, negus world fights for equality now. It's about judging each man by his action, being apart of a significant change.

Althought the word Negus soounds like "niger"it has a totally opposite meaning. Negus world is by no means a "ban of the N word" movment, or even an attempt to substitute to it. Instead,we educate youth and adults about where the word nigger come from, which is slavery. Slavery should never be burried under a rock, because it was a chapter of human history characterized by crime against humanity. The negusworld movement teaches that each and every one is born a king and a queen. We eventually chose to givie up our crown and became a discipline of whatever tradition or trend our idols and leaderswere feeding us.

YOU are born a Negus, but they tell you that you are a nigger. It is a choice you make, which do you choose to be? The leader or the follower? The king or the slave?


The Negus world movement asks these questions: Are you a Negus? Are you worthy of wearing a crown?The crown is made of the same chains used to oppress our ancestors, and is refashioned to reflect our ultimate victory over that pain and oppression. Yet. when placed upon the head of any one other than a true Negus, it is just a piece of metal. It is what we choose to make of the past that decides our future, and it is the negus that makes the crown

Anegus has a pure heart, A NEgus is fearless, a nNegus is a worrior, a negus knows where he is fromand yet doesn't let it definite where he is going, since a Negus doesn't follow. A Negus is his one and only leader, every one else is simply a source of inspiration.

Are you a NEGUS?

And you SISTER are you a NIGIST?

http://negusworld.com

http://neguswear.com/shop/

COMMUNITY ACTIVISM

J.E.M.B.H.A

Negus World Movement in Uganda At BAVUBUKA ALL STARS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnTikHFb3So
BAVUBUKA FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP UGANDA

International Community Activism Project

Originally inspire by Jane Feldman's 1993 photograph J.E.M.B.H.A is not just a group about a group of people with different ethinicity or religion coming together to take a group picture. We are soldiers fighting for "change"

It's about understanding that the mistakes from the past have led to an inequality in today's society and around the world. if an individual understands this, and is fighting to bring the balance to a fair equal level, i will fight by his side regardless of the color of his skin or the God he is praying to. "Judge Each Man By His Action"

BROTHER OKAI (HOUSE OF DRUMS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFgjhHMgSXU&feature=player_embedded
Compiled by
Babaluku [Director Bavubuka All Stars]

Published by
Gilbert Frank Daniels Bwette