PERFORMING LIFE IN BOLIVIA EMPOWERING YOUTH.

Profile: Performing Life
Translated by Camille Gutiérrez
Performing Life, una organización sin fines de lucro, trabaja con los jóvenes y mujeres que trabajan y/o viven en las calles de Cochabamba, una ciudad en el centro de Bolivia. El ayudante y productor del Proyecto de Música de Performing Life dice que la organización enseña los participantes técnicas artísticas para que ellos se puedan salir de las calles.  La organización muestra como se puede mejorar la vida a través del arte. Para aprender mas de este proyecto innovador, lea la entrevista abajo.

A non-profit organization based in Bolivia, Performing Life works with youth and
women working and living in the streets of Cochabamba, a city located in the central area of the country.  Providing workshops ranging from performing to fine arts, Performing Life shows how tapping into one’s creative skills can make even life better.  Oscar Rivadeneira, Performing Life’s Music Project Assistant and Producer, explains that the goal of project is to endow participants with a skill that can better serve them in the future.  To learn more about this groundbreaking project,
check out the interview below.
Camille: ¿En sus propias palabras, que es la visión de Performing Life y que es la inspiración por esta visión?
In your own words, what is Performing Life’s vision?
What inspires this vision?
Oscar: Enseñándo [los participantes] técnicas artísticas tales como; arte performance, artes plásticas y demás con el fin de inculcarles un aprendizaje que pueda servirles en el futuro, y con lo cual puedan alejarse de la calle y al mismo tiempo mejorar en un cierto porcentaje su situación económica mediante actividades recreativas y sanas para los participantes.
A los participantes les brindamos atención medica, realizamos proyectos de micro-emprendimientos, donde trabajamos directamente con las familias de los participantes creando pequeños negocios, construyendo casas, ayudándoles a ser mas autosuficientes.  Todos las participantes tienen la oportunidad de participar en todos los talleres que ofrecemos aunque algunos participan en una sola cosa, malabares o música y otros en varios.  Nuestra meta es ayudar a construir mejores futuros para nuestros participantes a través del arte.
By teaching the participants technical artistic skills such as performance art or making    art from plastics, we can inculcate in them a sense of learning that can serve them in the future, allowing them to escape the streets while also improving some part of their economic situation through safe and enjoyable activities.
We also provide the participants medical care and carry out micro-entrepreneurial projects, working directly with the participants’ families, to help them start small businesses, build houses and overall help them to become more self-sufficient.  All members have the opportunity to participate in any of the workshops we offer, even if they choose to participate in only one, be it juggling, music, etc. Our goal is to help build a better future for our participants through art.
C: ¿Que ha sido el proyecto la más agradable y porque?
What has been your most rewarding project so far and why?
O: Ver como los chicos progresan y elevan su autoestima al escribir sus propias vivencias y situaciones, escuchar los mensajes que llegan al corazón en sus canciones, las caras de felicidad cuando escuchan sus canciones y ven sus videos.
Esas son algunas de las cosas que nos impulsan a seguir adelante, brindándoles la oportunidad de crear y participar en actividades saludables y beneficiosos para su futuro y persona.
Seeing the kids develop and gain higher self-esteem just by writing down their own life experience, hearing the heartfelt messages of their songs and how happy they are when they hear their own songs and watch their videos…these are the moments that drive us to keep pushing forward and continue to offer them the opportunity to create and take part in helpful activities that will benefit their character and future.

C: ¿Como puede el “Hip Hop” ayudar la gente, en particular la juventud en riesgo?
How can hip hop play a role in the lives of others, especially at-risk youth?
O: “Hip Hop Kayma” es un proyecto que implementa la música como un enfoque creativo para ayudar a niños y adolescentes en riesgo, que trabajan y/o viven en las calles de Cochabamba. La meta de este proyecto es la de trabajar con ésta juventud y entrenarlos mediante talleres basados en materias musicales con el último fin de  producir una serie de discos o CDs de música profesional y cuyos beneficios sean completamente para los participantes. Con ésta propuesta se busca atraer a los participantes para introducirse a la música, utilizándola como terapia que los ayude básicamente a salir de la situación de riesgo en la cual se encuentran en las calles como la delincuencia y la drogadicción. Posteriormente esperamos motivarlos para que busquen dedicarse profesionalmente a la música, ya que con anteriores experiencias vimos que ésta actividad ayuda bastante en la autoestima y creatividad de los chicos, lo cual es una estrategia que usamos para ayudarlos a salir de las calles.
En 2009, hemos ayudado a mejorar la calidad de vida de los niños incentivando su estadía en el hogar, generando pasatiempos divertidos, creativos, estimulantes, y saludables.  Queremos mejorar la interacción, socialización y la internalización de reglas en los hogares, ayudándoles a mejorar su nivel atencional, desarrollar su madurez emocional, estimular su creatividad, fomentar su autoestima y desarrollar sus capacidades musicales.  Esas son las metas principales de este proyecto, y creamos que a través del música Hip Hop que estamos ayudando a los participantes en el proyecto “Hip Hop Kayma” a crear un mejor futuro.


“Hip Hop Kayma” is a project that uses music as a creative focus to help at-risk children and adolescents in Chochabamba.  The project’s goal is to work with these youth and coach them through music workshops, the final project being to produce a series of records or CDs of their music.  The benefits go solely to the participants.  This project aims to attract and introduce the participants to music, which can be a kind of therapy that can help them get out of the streets and move past any traumas they might have experienced there, such as crime or drug addiction.  We hope to motivate them to pursue music professionally, since in previous experiences we saw this activity boost the kids’ self esteem and creativity, which helped them leave the streets.
In 2009 we helped improve the quality of children’s lives by helping them get settled in their homes.  The main goals of our project are to improve the interactions, socialization and integration of rules in the home.  We want to help increase their attention span, develop their emotional maturity, stimulate their creativity, promote their self-esteem and develop their musical talents.  We can meet these goals through Hip Hop music as we are helping the participants of the “Hip Hop Kayma” project create a better future.
C: ¿Como fue escogido el titulo del proyecto?
How did you choose the project’s title?
O: “KAYMA” en lenguaje tradicional quechua significa “insípido” porque carece de ciertos aderezos como sal, pimienta etc. Nosotros pensamos que el Hip Hop que creamos con los chicos carece del toque “comercial” que incluye a dinero, mujeres y ahora muy famoso “bling bling”.  De ahí surge un Hip Hop crudo, puro y sin aderezos comerciales.

La información y el conocimiento son importantes para que la sociedad se de cuenta que estos niños son personas que tienen un futuro y que si se dedican a crecer y fortalecer su estado de vida, ¡puede salir adelante!
In the traditional Quechuan language, “Kayma” means “insipid,” or lacking to the extreme of a dish without salt or pepper, the most basic of seasonings.  We believe that the hip-hop we create with the kids lacks the commercial touches, such as money, women and nowadays the famous bling.  From here develops a raw, pure hip-hop, without the “seasonings” of commercialism, so to speak.
Information and knowledge are important in making society realize that these children are people with a future, and that if you seek growth and strength you can advance your life!
C: ¿Que son los objetivos para el futuro de Performing Life?
What are Performing Life’s goals for the future?
O: Expandir el proyecto hacia otras ciudades de Bolivia para poder alcanzar mas juventud en riesgo y crear un proyecto sostenible administrado por los mismos participantes.  Para poder lograr eso necesitamos expandir nuestro base de financiamiento, vender mas discos y seguir siempre saliendo adelante con el proyecto.
Our goals are to expand the project to other Bolivian cities, to reach more at-risk youth, and to create a sustainable project to be administered by the participants themselves.  To accomplish this goal we need to expand our financial base, sell more records and as always, keep the project moving forward.

KNOW MORE ABOUT ABOUT PERFORMING LIFE
CONTACT
John Connell
jconnell536@yahoo.com
http://www.performinglifebolivia.net


To see more of PERFORMING LIFE’s work, see the links below.

Enlaces para ver el trabajo de Performing Life.

Documentaries/Documentales
Performing Arts Classes Documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKAwfh6zK4

Performing Life Documentary (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuz5LbDffn0
Performing Life Documentary (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFO0LtpKU9U
Under the city of eternal spring trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIBPG9gmuI4

Music Videos from the 2009 Music Project
Ver los videos musicales producidos por el Proyecto de Música en 2009!
“Amigos”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAp2Cb1mLk8
“Lagrimas que Brotan”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69QD5FN27I

“Bajo el Puente”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDvqDm-mQ7U

English Subtitled Version of Bajo El Puente
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW1o-z7EH6s
“Paz”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63KFB3NSfJI

Download and listen to our music collaborations
Descarga y escucha nuestra música en las paginas que nos colaboran
www.onerpm.com
http://amiestreet.com/music/performing-life/hip-hop-kayma-vol-1/

Check out Performing Life on MySpace and Facebook.
Escucha la musica hecha por los participantes del Proyecto de Musica en MySpace:
www.myspace.com/performinglife
Ver los Actualizaciones mas recientes en la pagina de Performing life en Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Cbba-Bolivia/Performing-Life-Inc/21014245585?ref=ts

PUBLISHED BY
Bwette Daniel Gilbert

The Future of Hip-Hop in Uganda?: Babaluku’s Youth Movement

Babaluku, a 30-year-old Ugandan artist
based in Canada who pioneered Lugaflow
and supports the Ugandan youth movement.

Babaluku knows how to find good music in Uganda.  The 30-year-old community youth activist who lives abroad in Vancouver, Canada, can be described in many ways.  A social entrepreneur,  a hip-hop artist, and a producer, Babaluku initially became known as a hip-hop artist who didn’t rap in English, but in Uganda’s indigenous languages.  And in his case, Luganda.  Babaluku was a founding member of the Bataka squad, an early hip-hop group in Uganda now made up of Babaluku, Tshila, and Krazy Native (Saba Saba).  The group created the type of music known as Lugaflow,  entering the musical scene in 1994.
However, what’s on Babaluku’s mind these days are Ugandan youth, and the positive impact that hip-hop is having on their lives.  Babaluku runs a nonprofit called the Bavubuka Foundation, where he works with kids all over Uganda to create rich music and build a grassroots youth movement from Kampala’s ghettos to Karamoja, in northeastern Uganda.  Babaluku told Ugandans Abroad about a typical day in his life in Uganda, where he has returned every year since 2005 to work with youth.  The foundation is based in Makindye, in one of the foundation’s projects called Bavubuka House.  ”I wake up at ten a.m., but my kids will have already come to the property at 8 a.m.,” Babaluku said.  ”MCs are freestyling, some kids are doing graffiti, some actors are asking for camera equipment, kids will come and say what’s up Babaluku, and thank me for what I’m doing for hip-hop in Uganda.”

Ugandan children rapping in indigenous languages.

Babaluku is doing new construction on the site, so he will often spend a day working on different parts of the structure, and then he takes the youth in the evening to take part in performances in Kampala. For example, he holds an event with his kids every Tuesday called Spoken Truth– and on Sunday, youth gather in Makindye for testimonials.  ”Kids come and talk about their struggles, successes, pains, and joys,” Babaluku said.  Kids hang out until 3 a.m. with Babaluku, rehearsing for upcoming shows.  One activity he admits can’t be beat.  ”And of course, I take them out for pizza at Nando’s,” he told me affectionately, referencing a popular hangout in Kampala.
I first met Babaluku at a concert in New York at Drom, a restaurant and lounge in the East Village.  Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa, a musical group that features traditional Ugandan and African studios, performed dreamscape melodies with kalimbas, koros, and other traditional Ugandan instruments.  When Babaluku wasn’t listening intently to the unique sounds as they drifted over the Lower East Side, he was chatting with different people about positive work being done in Uganda.

Babaluku left Uganda when he was twelve
and moved to Canada,
but goes back every year.

Born Silas Balabyekkubo, but known largely as Babaluku, his presence manages to appear both mellow and thoughtful.  However, this belies Babaluku’s initial struggles when he left Uganda at the age of twelve, when his family moved to Ontario, Canada.  ”It was a 360 twist,” he said.  ”You go from running around the village to riding bikes down the block, I was in culture shock.  I had never known about racism as a kid, but here in 7th grade kids [in Canada] knew what racism was.  I didn’t know about it– when I first came out here, it was the first time i heard the word racism.”  Babaluku left his school in Makindye and joined an all-white school, where he felt like an outsider.   “It was a new experience, racial profiling, I didn’t even know what they called it.”
To this day, he still sometimes feels frustrated with Ugandans living abroad, though appreciative of the community.  He wants the diaspora to return home whenever they can.  ”If you are a baseball player, you can play ball with kids in Uganda,” he said.  ”If you are a musician in North America, you can sing with kids in Uganda.  Let’s celebrate life together.”
When Babaluku began traveling back to Uganda, he expected to get a respite from feeling like an outsider in Canada.  However, this was not the case.  ”I arrived in Entebbe, and the customs guy asked me why I have dreads, why I didn’t look like the white man next to me, why I wasn’t wearing a three-piece suit,” he said.  ”I left North America struggling…I thought I would find the freedom to be liberated, with the people who are free.”  Worse, many of the friends and family he left behind in Uganda had died while he was away.
“Some of those lost to AIDS, different accidents, murder,” he said.  ”It was all the different things that take people in Africa.  I had to walk those streets again and rebuild a new family.”

Creating art at Bavubuka House.

Describing contemporary Ugandan life, the artist feels that the country still has a  colonized mentality that permeates everything.  ”They say what’s black is not good,” he said.  ”There’s a huge inferiority complex going on– that’s why Uganda is not shifting forward.  Parents are paying for school fees, not even knowing what the product for their kids is.”

Zubi, an industrial artist who teaches at Bavubuka House.

These feelings led Babaluku to rap in Luganda, and to encourage other artists to do the same.  ”Lugaflow is the definition of indigenous hip-hop,” he told Ugandans Abroad.  ”It has started to take off in Mbarara, northern Uganda, Jinja, even in Karamoja.  You hear there are kids rapping there! Hip-hop has given children an industry of their own that no one can regulate it.  It’s inspiring to hear people rapping in their native tongues.”
Babaluku says that many teens are using hip-hop as a platform to make t-shirs, gear, and other merchandise, bringing out their entrepreneurial spirit.  ”The new young ones coming from the ghettos and villages speaking different dialects have given us a beautiful outlook on what hip-hop will become,” he said.
Hip-hop’s music and culture came from New York in the 1970s, but its beats and rhythms had strong Caribbean and African roots, borrowing from Africa’s rich musical traditions.  Even the word hip has been linked to Senegal’s Wolof word “hepi,” which means to open one’s eyes.  Hip-hop went full circle and grew in popularity on the African continent in the 1980s and 1990s, and the strong emotions of the genre had a strong impact on African youth.  Many could relate to lyrics that spoke honestly of poverty, violence, and corruption.  The first African hip-hop artists initially rapped in English, but many are now embracing songs in their indigenous languages.  In Tanzania, for examples, many artists began performing in Kiswahili.  Hip-hop has a particularly strong presence in Nigeria and Senegal, but East Africa has also birthed its own movement.  ”Kenya and Tanzania are ahead of Uganda, but Uganda’s coming to come up right now,” Babaluku told Ugandans Abroad.

Mural at Bavubuka Community House, Kampala (Makindye)

One example of this is the foundation’s Bavubuka House, whose youth are known as Bavubuka*All Starz, is home to meetings that often fill with more than a hundred children, eager to share ideas and tell their stories.  The foundation runs many projects, but one new program for girls is the Bavubuka Girls’ Passion Project, which provides leadership training to 20 women.  It also runs a sports program for children in Kampala’s urban slums and in recovering post-conflict communities.  Babaluku believes that group sports improves children’s health, enhances cooperation, improves their self-confidence, and gives them some much-needed leisure them.  Football, boxing, and basketball are some games that are popular.

However, at the end of the day, Babaluku believes the heart of the youth movement is music.  In December, he will host a hip-hop summit in Kampala that he hopes will give children a chance to show off their talent and enjoy their movement.  “Hip-hop is the resurrection of the youthful voices of Uganda,” he said.  “We have a slogan—what’s ours is for the people, ours is for the people.  Akaffe kabatuzze.”

Written By
Rebecca Harshbarger
Republished By
Bwette Daniel Gilbert

Other RESOURCES:
UGANDANS ABROAD

BAVUBUKA ALLSTARZ FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP UGANDA

THE BAVUBUKA FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnTikHFb3So

Welcome to the bavubuka allstarz freestyle fellowship, Uganda’s leading hip hop Organization. Here you will find information about our organization, Luga Flow Freestyle Fellowships, upcoming events, our professional Freestyling group and the community work which we are regularly involved in. Feel free to contact us in case of any further questions by dropping us a email at Silas@bavubuka.org or calling us at -
U.S.A: 1 201 210 1433 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1 201 210 1433      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Silas)
CANADA: 1 778 861 2284 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1 778 861 2284      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Uganda:  +256 751 906 896 (Brian)
               +256 775 961 079 (Gilbert)    

ABATUUZE -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgOKCYD5w4w&feature=player_embedded

ABOUT US

Who Are We?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueq-QcpuYCc

Bavubuka Freestyle Fellowship is Uganda,s leading hip hop organization, supplying the best Freestylers & Mc’s for all aspects of Community Building Events, Hip Hop Promos, TV, Concerts, Trade/Fashion Shows Commercials and Corporate Social Responsibility Events

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovZ_kaM802k

The Bavubuka Freestyle Fellowship was established by Babaluku one of Uganda’s hip hop pioneers of indigenous hip hop and also Know as the originator of Luga Flow, he has worked tirelessly within the community empowering Ugandan youth through Music writing, Performing arts to Audio recording and Video recording giving opportunities to youth from different back grounds……..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2HyPtjZy2E

The founder and executive director, Babaluku has more than 10 years experience of hip hop Business Development and Management in Uganda and abroad environments and supports Bavubuka freestyle fellowship in the successful operation of the business.
Classes and Workshops

Opening in September 2010, Bavubuka Community house will be the hosting space of Bavubuka all*starz freestyle fellowships Located in Kampla Makindye by the barracks opposite Calendar Prestige Guest house our community environment comprises space where classes and workshops are hosted

Bavubuka Community house offer space for a range of classes including Freestyle Fellowships, Hip hop Improve theater, Poetry, Street dance, Break dance, Hip Hop, and our new interactive community dialogue forums. space is also available for Hire to Educational groups or organizations, and all community designed functions are welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY2IkIlWuY0

In the Community:
Bavubuka Community has several years experience of Community Creative expression through hip hop, and currently works within Schools and Community Groups within the country and abroad.

What we provide is a platform that show cases how Hip Hop is used as a catalyst of social change through the elements of Mcing ,Graffiti, Djayin, Streetdance and Breakdance – these genres have been proven to boost confidence and self-esteem with youths from all backgrounds, and of all sizes.

Furthermore, this non-traditional Urban style of expression attracts and supports socially-excluded youths to participate in community uplifting and empowering activities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTk8nRIo58

Contact: Silas / Babaluku
www.bavubuka.org
Published BY
Bwette Daniel Gilbert

FROM KAMPALA TO THE BRONX - PABLO NERUDA ACADEMY

The Leadership Program
PNA/Bavubuka Video Exchange‏ Project

From Uganda to the Bronx, Video Exchange Project.

Silas, AKA "Babaluku", a Ugandan hip-hop artist and Youth Activist, founder of the Bavubuka foundation in Kampala Uganda, came to Pablo Neruda Academy on April 26th and 27th through the BISCEP Program, initiating a partnership across continents,--from Uganda to the Bronx.

He engaged the students passionately to consider "What is your voice?" He challenged them to contemplate the role of hip-hop in the Bronx today as compared to what it is in Uganda--an instrument of hope and an honest expression about life in the struggle against poverty, war, disease, corruption, and gender inequality. Students were inspired in discovering both similarities and differences between Ugandan and Bronx youth. They were then invited to join Silas and the BISCEP Teachers to be part of a video of self-expression project. The video gave them a platform to express their dreams, their perceptions of life in the Bronx and a chance to greet their new Ugandan youth friends. This video will be taken to Uganda and shared with Ugandan youth, who will in turn create a video for PNA. Ultimately it created a bridge between youth across continents and a deeper comprehension of others.

Reflections on Silas and the Video Exchange Project

(Intro who Silas is and that he was a guest in the school... then: Silas began the class getting everyone on their feet to create an equal community by saying, "Peace, love and unity! We are all one." Many
students found that to be a powerful and memorable quote.)

Silas loves his homeland and he is committed to giving people an outlet for expression. I learned that what we encounter here in America is not too different from what they endure in Uganda. Since I met him, I feel that I have enough power to give other young people a way to express themselves. To make a difference is to see a change and make positive contributions to your community and other places in need. ~Shawntel Jones

Silas was joyful, passionate, cool, and thoughtful. I felt like he fit in with us. He taught me that people in Uganda also live like people in the

Bronx.

~Luis Ortega

I learned that hip-hop is an art form that Ugandans use.

~Kelvin Veras

Silas taught me to appreciate the luxuries of living as a teenager in America. He raps about things that are real problems/struggles. Hip-hop can help us see hope in anything. To make a difference you have to put hope in people's hands and have them believe anything can change.

~Gregorio Fernandez

To make a difference means to better everybody around us.

~Jose G.

Silas was really cool and he really cared about the people in Uganda. He cared about our opinion as well and treated us like we made a difference. He taught me to speak out for what I believe in and to make other people feel better when they are down. I feel empowered, like I can make a
difference in another young person's life.

~Channell Rozo

Now that I have met Silas, I will expand my knowledge to world peace, and learn how to understand the struggle other people go through. He taught me how people express themselves through music without using violence and harmful words. I will remember his joyful character.~Jounel Estevez

This project inpsires me to live my life in a better way and to help the poor and needy. It taught me that everyone should know a little bit about each country. Silas is inspiring and caring to youth. ~Samuel Obeneg

Silas had a contagious positive attitude. He taught me that positive thoughts lead to positive things happening.
~Miguel Colon

Silas uses music to show what he and his people go through. He taught us that any person can speak using the thing that they love doing, like singing, writing or anything. He gave me hope that there are people who are trying to make a difference.

~Maritza Cortez

Silas was dedicated, energized and positive. He really believes that we are all one and that its never too late to make a change. I really hope that his words will reach out to everyone. "Peace love and unity we are all one!"
~Kiara

Brother Silas is very humble and he has faith in what he does. He made me believe that we can have peace, love and happiness through all the bad that happens to us. We just need to have faith in ourselves. ~Jennifer Adams

Silas is a strong person, who is dedicated to music and to showing us the struggle in Uganda. He taught us that music has more than just the violence, drugs and women that we see in hip-hop in America. Music can relate to your life. "Peace love and Unity! We are all one".
~Chael A.

THANKS TO SISTER CATHERINE HANNA FOR KEEPING THIS DREAM ALIVE AND LIVING TO SEE IT THROUGH FRUITION. BAVUBUKA COMMUNITY IS BLESSED TO HAVE HER AS A PARTNER IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH IN UGANDA AND GIVE THEM A VOICE.

RELATED RESOURCES

www.shalomsahbity.com

http://www.theleadershipprogram.com/

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

Contact: Silas / Babalukuwww.bavubuka.org