Jason Diakité, known as the Swedish Hip-Hop artist Timbuktu, visited Zambia together with his band the Masaka Trio feat Esther Kirabo.
"I am grateful and happy to return to Africa in collaboration with Selam and for the first time together with Esther Kirabo and the MASAKA Trio. It is a kind of diasporic homecoming for us and a valuable opportunity to partake in culture and connect with the people of Kampala, Addis Ababa and Lusaka.” - says Timbuktu.
Was carried out with the support of Sweden's embassies in Zambia and Uganda
The group toured Africa between 28 November to 3 December, with media appearances, workshops and live performances in Kampala, Addis Ababa and Lusaka. The embassies in Kampala and Lusaka arranged the trip together with the Swedish-Ethiopian organization Selam.
Focus on public funding of the cultural sector in Zambia
The visit to Lusaka began with a live performance at the Alliance Française. The following day, a round table discussion was organized by Selam and their local partner People's Action for Accountability and Good Governance in Zambia (PAAGZ). The purpose of the conversation was to explore opportunities and challenges to secure public funding for the cultural sector in Zambia. Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia, Johan Hallenborg, participated in the conversation together with representatives from the Zambian government, civil society and the cultural sector.
On the same day, a press conference was also held with Timbuktu and Zambian artists. The day ended with a cultural dinner together with Zambian artists at the Swedish Residence, where opportunities and challenges in the music industry were discussed. The artists had the opportunity to exchange lessons from their careers and share their experiences as a Swedish or Zambian artist. The artists also showcased their music during a joint jam session at the residence after dinner.
The world celebrates 50 years of Hip-Hop
The visit in Lusaka ended with a concert together with Zambian Hip-Hop artists. The concert was a contribution to the worldwide celebration of 50 years of Hip-Hop and showcased the development and timeline of Zambian Hip-Hop through song, images and video. On stage with Timbuktu, Esther Kirabo and MASAKA Trio were a total of ten Zambian artists. The evening offered a great variety of performances in Swedish, English and some of the Zambian local languages. Over 700 people came to experience this unique mix of Zambian and Swedish Hip-Hop.
The Embassy in Zambia is pleased with the visit
The visit was a great success, and the exchange has benefited both Swedish and Zambian artists. Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia, Johan Hallenborg, emphasizes: "Culture builds bridges and creates understanding. Artistic freedom is also a fundamental building block in democratic societies. Through this collaboration - concerts, round table discussions and other activities - we want to both strengthen the positive image of Sweden in Zambia and contribute to an exchange of experiences and knowledge regarding the role of culture in society."
