Hoping on Hip Hop: Breakreate Festival seeks to harness hip hop culture in Tunisia

World
Europe

Now we turn to Tunisia, where Breakreate aims to be a decentralized platform for the country's hip hop culture. The four-day event, an exchange point for urban art, will focus on Tunisian youth this year, offering free workshops and performances. CGTN's Adnen Chaouachi has more.

The Breakreate festival is on. The event has gathered hundreds of talented youths in Nefza, a small town in the governorate of Beja, Northwest of Tunisia.

MOHAMED AZIZ BOUALI BREAKREATE MEMBER "Over 100 artists are here in Nefza. This collective effort encourages the decentralization of artistic performances which are usually held in the capital city Tunis. We're showing the skills of inner regions."

This workshop introduces young people to the foundations of breakdance & streetdance. It is led by a highly experienced breakdancing champions. Yassine comes from the desert in the city of Tozeur, South of the country.

YASSIN BREAKDANCER "My team name is Black Power Crew. The Hip Hop community is very solidary and creative. We're making breakdance and showing participants the basics in toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes."

Freshly painted street art by graffiti artists adorns numerous walls in Nefza. Graffiti has become one of the most popular forms of artistic expression in the North African country.

TAHAR ABID GRAFFITI ARTIST "Art is our way of criticizing the system and denouncing injustice, inequality, and racism in the Tunisian society as well as the unemployment and the lack of regional development."

Organizers say Breakreate reflects the latest activity in the Hip Hop community in Tunisia. The Festival has created content on its website and on social networks to spread the word.

ADNEN CHAOUACHI TUNIS, TUNISIA "Breakreate Festival aims to attract participants from the 24 governorates across Tunisia. The national event will internationalize next year by hosting artists from neighboring Algeria and Libya and other African and European countries. AC. CGTN. T."