Mauritania's Awlad Leblad: changing society through hip-hop

16/12/2008

Mauritanian hip-hop group Awlad Leblad aspires to change society through music.

By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 16/12/08

[Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud] Mauritanian hip-hop band Awlad Leblad has attracted many young fans.

In recent years, the Mauritanian hip-hop band Awlad Leblad has become famous by addressing local issues in a blend of Western music and traditional styles. The group has attracted many young fans.

The members say Awlad Leblad was formed when they began looking for ways to share ideas about the need for change in Mauritania. To learn more about Awlad Leblad, Magharebia recently interviewed two of the members – Hamada and Ishak.

Magharebia: When did you launch Awlad Leblad?

Hamada: We started this journey in 2000. We were very much into hip-hop, and were imitating Western singers. That was the most difficult period, because of the pressures we faced from the traditional society in which we live, especially from our families. We don't hail from families with artistic backgrounds, and art is restricted to a certain social class in Mauritania. However, we fought against such a reality, and insisted on defying outdated habits and traditions.

During the second stage we became better organised, and moved away from improvisation, which had thus far characterised our artistic career. We met, and decided to name our band Awlad Leblad. We set the goals and principles that would govern our work, and started looking for sponsors for our artistic activities. Our art is primarily aimed at changing mentalities which are no longer fit for today. We started urging young people to innovate and create for the sake of a new, free, open Mauritania. At the same time, we decided to wear traditional clothes in order to impart a purely local character to our songs, where the local and global aspects are blended.

Magharebia: Why did you choose this name – Awlad Leblad?

Hamada: The choice of the name stemmed from a purely national view. We wanted the band to be multi-ethnic, so that it would defy social classification. Therefore, it's a perfect blend between white and black. In addition, the band sings in the national dialects so that no minority is excluded.

Magharebia:What about the choice of lyrics? Have you faced any difficulty in blending the rhythms of hip-hop with national dialects?

Ishak: We faced no difficulties in mixing the two. Rather, the fact that hip-hop music carries in itself a great revolutionary dimension makes us do the impossible. We choose our own lyrics, especially those which will honestly carry the meanings of the topic to be addressed, and which will be understood by everyone. Therefore, most of our songs up till now call for boosting the values of citizenship, caring for the poor, the need to clean the streets, etc. We are often invited to national events in order to raise our compatriots' awareness.

Our band is against singing for or praising anyone, as this is against the values of the liberating and revolutionary character of hip-hop music. We see ourselves as the voice of the modern people of Mauritania and not the voice of certain individuals.

Magharebia: What are the most important future projects that Awlad Leblad is aspiring to achieve?

Hamada: We have so far been able to spread our voice of youth and liberation across our homeland in general. In the future, we aspire to carry this voice overseas and to represent Mauritania in world music competitions. In 2007, we released a number of recorded songs as well as some music videos, and we shall release our second album soon.

We have good relations with Senegalese groups that are active in the same area. We shall go there in the next few days to represent Mauritania in a regional event. We also have strong relations with prominent artists in our country, including Maalouma Mint El Meydah.

We also look forward to establishing relations with hip hop clubs in the Maghreb to deepen our artistic reach. I think we have somewhat contributed to the reconciliation between cultures and nations. We shall carry on singing, and we hope to achieve more.