Togolese hip hop

Togo has a very diverse and rich traditional music and dance.

Interest in Togolese hip hop

Origins

Togolese hip hop has started with the group "Black Syndicate" composed by O. Below and Y. More from Lome? the capital of Togo.Fofo magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2006 from http://www.planeteafrique.com/FofoMag/Index.asp?affiche=News_Display.asp&articleid=⌊⌊⌊⌊0⌋⌋⌋⌋] .Most of Togolese hip hop artists are students from high schools and university. In the big arena of Togolese hip hop artists, we can categorize them according to each artist's style of music. Some Togolese hip hop artists seem to be specialized in the mixing of popular songs made up with rapping beats. The most influential artists known in this category is ERIC MCa.k.a The Black Niggawho won twice the Togo Hip Hop Awards with his first album "ADJAMOFO". [ [http://www.cerclehiphop.afrikart.net/cercle.html LE GRAND PORTAIL DE LA CULTURE HIP HOP AU TOGO.] ]

Another category of Togolese hip hop artists are those who are evolving in soul music. Their beats are more soft and their lyrics are more about love and hope. As an example we can cite WEDY who changed the image of the Togolese hip category of Togolese hip hop artists are those who are doing either the soft or the hard hip] , Small poppy, M Tall T, Djanta Klan, Rx Patou,Pitt toxiko,the next phenomenon.

Characteristics

Instrumentation and production

Production business

Producers and studio managers are very expensive because hip hop is not yet well developed in Togo so infrastructures made for the production of hip hop albums are scarce and not all the artists are able to produce their albums. The most important label in the Togolese hip hop production is the Hope Row record, which controls the majority of the productions. Since the demand for Togolese hip hop music increased, businessmen found a good way to make profit by facilitating artists to access infrastructures they need. The access to production houses is now very easy and producers are even seeking for talented singers.

Togo Hip Hop Award

Togolese authorities and the minister of culture haven’t considered Togolese hip hop music as music with a proper cultural identity. But to reward Togolese hip hop artists, authorities established a night each year to give them awards called Togo Hip Hop Awards since 2003. Togo Hip Hop Awards. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.geocities.com/wcerclehiphop/] . Togo Hip Hop Awards festival is an occasion to garther all the Togolese hip hop artists from the North to the South and even those who are abroad. Hip Hop Awards maintaiin relations between artists and reinforce cooperation among them.

Social impact

Social impact on teenagers

Togolese hip hop has the ability to bring political, social and economic issues in the society by opening people’s eyes on what is really going on in the country. As it can affect both young and old people, Togolese Hip Hop has both positive and negative aspects on the society and teenagers in particular. Hip hop is no more only a music but has extended to clothing as street fashion, break dance, graffiti, Mcing, Djing and many other things.

Change in their lifestyle

Teenagers have their own hip hop communities governed by talented designers who impose the hip hop style in the cities. The two main designers are EFA DK who is Orcyno’s brother and personal designer and WELFON. EFA DK created a sports wear universe since 1999 added by a special Togolese touch with traditional clothing. Des membres du collectif "VIKLU" habillés par le styliste EFA DK. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.orcyno.africa-web.org/2bgal/disp_serie.php?id_album=6&stat=ok] WELFON is more based on maintaining the unity with the idea he got in 2005 to mark T-shirts and caps with a Togolese flag design. Welfon la marque de la griffe. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://spreadshirt.net/shop.php?sid=65898] . Despite this maturity of Togolese youth toward the conscience of a united country for a better development, they nevertheless adopted a semblance of American hip hop stars’ lives. Some Togolese hip hop artists try to copy what is called the “thug life” of certain American hip hop stars. Girls, alcohol, parties, cars, expensive clothes…constitute their environment. They usually do this to show their power but instead of that, they are degrading their image and giving a bad example to youth. Still, most of Togolese hip hop artists are very aware of their influence on the society by being it spokesperson so, they take care of their image.

Birth of national unity

For a long time, football has been the only social relaxation activity that got together the Togolese youth despite problems which are dividing the country. During the late 1980s football has been replaced by Togolese hip hop music which seems to be playing the same role which is to garther youth together for a better understanding of national unity. Togolese hip hop help developed patriotism among teenagers and unify them without any consideration of political party or region. Natural borders have disappeared and music is the link between the young generations. This national unity of Togolese youths ensures the future development of Togo in a peaceful atmosphere. Togolese hip hop keeps youths unified and struggle for national reconciliation. That is why festival, shows, concerts are always organised to let youth express themselves and entertain them by the way.

Media

The media seems very supportive of the Togolese hip hop music and help artists a lot for their promotions. A lot of TV shows have been devoted to Togolese hip hop music. New albums are always broadcasted on television. Actually radios are very important for the development of Togolese hip hop music, anywhere on every radios you can have the privilege to listen to many different types of the Togolese hip hop music. Even underground songs are broadcasted on radios, they are the factor who propel them in the Togolese hip hop world.

Notes