Vice Verse All Stars Visit to Mauritania
Summary: Jazz at Lincoln Center, in conjunction with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State, sponsored this year’s 2009 the Rhythm Road American Music Abroad group, the hip-hop ensemble Vice Verse All Stars.
Vice Verse began their seven country tour of Africa in February 2009 with an action packed six day tour of Mauritania. Throughout their trip they gave lecture demonstrations, participated in Jam Sessions with local artists, and played concerts to packed halls and amphitheaters. Through these exchanges they spread the message of the importance of hip hop and cultural exchange. While in Mauritania they played in the capital Nouakchott and in the South, and jammed with local artists rapping in Hassaniya, Pulaar, Wolof and French.
On their first night in Nouakchott, they played to a packed standing room of over 700 at the Old Youth House with the popular Hassaniya local rap group Ewlad LeBlad. On their second night they collaborated with several well known local artists including Noura, Jaminteki and Military Underground, in a Jam Session at the Equinoxe Centre with over 100 in attendance. They then traveled to Kaedi where they stayed overnight, giving a record breaking concert at the Maison des Jeunes that evening with over 1,500 spectators at the Maison des Jeunes.
The following day they participated in a humanitarian distribution (backpacks, T-shirts and toys) and jam session at the Houdallaye Refugee Returnee Camp (Boghé) with local artist Big Baba. Highlighting the importance of hip-hop in the history of African-Americans in the US , they gave interactive lecture demonstrations to English students from the University of Nouakchott (+150) at the US Embassy and 12- 18 year old Access Scholarship English students Nouakchott English Center (+70).
Their trip was a resounding success, bringing cultural events and Americans to places they had never been before, and often touching on relevant political matters including the current coup d’état in Mauritania, the state of democracy and Obama’s presidency.