Have you heard of Tanzania’s first all-female Hip Hop collective?
If not, let us introduce you to the sensational Bongo Queens. This dynamic group originated from the collaborative project “Her Hip Hop Experience”, which unfolded between 2022-2023.
With the support of various partners including the Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française de Dar es Salaam, the Embassies of France and Germany in Tanzania, Okoa Mtaa Foundation, BASATA, Uswazi Born Talents (UBT), and the Franco-German Cultural Fund, the project aimed to strengthen the presence of women in Tanzania’s Hip Hop industry.
The Her Hip Hop Experience brought together five talented Tanzanian female Hip Hop artists from Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Through a series of workshops, they delved into various crucial aspects of the music industry, including Tanzania’s music landscape, branding strategies, stage performance techniques, voice modulation, dance choreography, and cultural inclusivity awareness.
Guiding these workshops were industry experts such as Carola Kinasha from Dar es Salaam, Julie Gomel from France, and music consultant Pamela Owusu-Brenyah from Berlin.
A standout moment from the Her Hip Hop Experience was the production and video shoot of the Bongo Queens’ original song “Walete”, now available for listening on YouTube and Spotify. The project reached its peak in June 2023 with a performance by the Bongo Queens at the third edition of the Hip Hop Asili Festival. It was followed by an extensive media coverage with the group’s members participating in interviews across various national television and radio stations.
More than just a platform for individual and collective growth, the Her Hip Hop Experience serves as a testament of breaking barriers, challenging norms, amplifying the voices of women in Hip Hop and paving the way for future generations of female artists to shine.
Walete – Bring them!
