A group of street kids in Kinshasa, between 10 and 18 years old – so-called «shégués», sons of soldiers, orphans or «child sorcerers» – got the possibility to collaborate with Congolese artist Lova Lova in 2019. He provided a musical frame out of electro-congorock, afropunk, ragga, and hip hop for them. This allowed the kids to spit their feelings and thoughts about the difficulties encountered in their lives – rivalry, politics, sexuality and survival – in a funny and provocative way. Warlike rap, street gang style, but also praying and blessing, carried by a specific sharp undertone of rage and hope. These kids know they are fucked – and they fuck back.
More information: https://seismorecords.bandcamp.com/album/mokili-na-poche
Project partners
Oyo Projects – Producer of the project
https://www.facebook.com/Oyo.Streetkidsartproject/
Swiss Embassy in Kinshasa – providing support for the project
https://www.eda.admin.ch/kinshasa
Bomoko Connexion – Independent cultural centre
https://www.facebook.com/BOMOKOCONNEX
Double Vision – Independent cultural centre
https://www.facebook.com/Double-Vision-1210567818980095/
Studio Pela – Recording studio
fluctuating images, Berlin – providing support for the project
www.fluctuating-images.de
AcudMachtNeu, Berlin – providing support for the project
https://acudmachtneu.de/
Seismographic Records – Exclusive release on vinyl
www.seismorecords.bandcamp.com
Possibilities for ordering (including sound snippets):
https://www.hhv.de/shop/en/item/lova-lova-and-atelier-kamikazi-mokili-na-poche-904132
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/lova-lova-atelier-kamikazi-mokili-na-poche/869777-01/?c=668157
Thanks goes to AcudMachtNeu (Berlin) and LabKontempo (Kinshasa) as well as to DHBW Ravensburg for supporting the research of Dr. Cornelia Lund (HfK Bremen, fluctuating images e.V. Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Holger Lund (DHBW Ravensburg, fluctuating images e.V. Berlin) in Kinshasa.
