In the pantheon of music genres that have been presumptuously pronounced as disesteemed in Zimbabwe, Zim Hip Hop was at some point on top.
However, this has changed over the years as music consumers are slowly appreciating Hip Hop music as well as relating to its message.
Hip Hop, which was founded in the United States of America by Kool Herc is now starting to be embraced as a culture in Zimbabwe, and in keeping the Hip Hop culture alive Prince ‘Noble Stylz‘ Butawu formed a movement called ‘For the Culture’.
On the 27th of August this year I got a chance to attend one of the For the Culture events. This was the third edition of the monthly event which is held at Moto Republik in Harare.
It was a day filled with Hip Hop music and experiences, it featured different Hip Hop artistes and industry creatives who hung out sharing nuggets on how to survive and manoeuvre in the Zimbabwean arts industry as a Hip Hop creative.
Speaking to the founder of For The Culture Noble Stylz on the sidelines of the event, he said that it is an initiative which brings together all the elements of the Hip Hop culture.
“For The Culture is a Hip Hop initiative which brings together all the parent elements of the (Hip Hop) Culture namely rapping, break dancing, graffiti and deejaying. Added to that, it also has beat boxing, cyphers, stand up comedy and the corporate segment called The Masterclass,” he said.
“While all other disciplines are are art pivoted, The Masterclass brings renowned think-tanks and professionals from different dimensions to share their wit with artistes to bridge the two worlds.”
In the first two editions, Honourable Fortune Chasi and Advocate Dumi Mthombeni and some of the country’s leading journalists have graced the platform.
“The vision is to have a working institution that collaborates with similar initiatives from around the region and eventually the globe,” said Noble Stylz.
“Locally we are building the roots to keep the Hip Hop movement stable in a time the fruits are beginning to show, it is easy to forget to sow when you are reaping. So as we celebrate our moves forward as a genre, we need to take care of the future voices, hence For The Culture.”
With such an initiative in our midst, it is left to the Hip Hop influencers and writers to shape a positive narrative so that everyone embraces the culture, just like how Zimdancehall has been embraced.
Of course not everyone will jump in and support the Hip Hop movement but if it starts to be recognised at national level, then we might have a culture to speak of. We already have the music, Zim Hip Hop is currently doing well at the moment.
For The Culture which is held every last Saturday of the month will have its maiden festival in April 2023. For me, the festival will define how big the Hip Hop culture is and how people will have embraced it by then, this is a noble (pun intended) initiative for Zim Hip Hop.
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