Break-dancing for social justice in Tunisia Favorite 

Practitioner: 

Date: 

Feb 1 2017

Location: 

Tunis, Tunisia

In Tunisia, a country gripped by economic uncertainty and still in the midst of rebuilding its identity after the Arab Spring, hip-hop culture is viewed as part of an ongoing dissident movement. Just a few events, such as the recent Mafia Wallitili Festival in the heart of downtown Tunis, offer the local hip-hop community an opportunity to share their values with the broader population.

The Mafia Wallitili Festival is a three-day event focused on Tunisia's youth, offering free workshops and performance events. The festival is meant to be a platform to showcase the frustrations of the country's disillusioned youth.

"It gives a lot of hope to the youth," festival host Chouaib Cheu told Al Jazeera. His association, Art Solution, has also served as an important bridge between people from Tunisia's roughest neighborhoods and the established hip-hop community.

Shaking up cultural norms, Tunisia's hip-hop culture stems from the frustrations of the country's disillusioned youth, who have sought to paint a picture of a society torn up by social injustices.

Posted by nikitaduke on

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3
Can you give more details about how the performances and forums were structured? Were any organizations or campaigns involved and did their number of supporters increase after the event?

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