Rhythms of Change: How hip hop and science unite to empower youth
While seemingly separate and distinct, music and science have more in common than first meets the eye (or ear!). They share deep connections in creativity, curiosity and expression – and for young people in South Africa today, these connections provide a beacon of hope amidst the multiple challenges they face.
Music, with its rhythms, melodies, harmonies and lyrics, is a powerful tool for engaging with young people around complex topics that affect their health and well-being. When young people collaborate to create music and songs relevant to their lives, they tap into a transforming source of energy and inspiration that propels them forward.
It is this truth that we have drawn upon at Jive Media Africa with one of our standout initiatives, the Hip Hop U programme. This innovative intervention creates a space for adolescents to take charge of mini-research projects, together with young black male and female researchers, who act as role-models and knowledge specialists. Through this hands-on experience, they learn new ways to see and investigate their reality – whether the topic is mental health, HIV prevention or the impact of water-related diseases in their communities, to name a few.
To share their learnings and to amplify their voices, participants are then invited to express their discoveries and insights by creating and performing hip hop and rap songs. Their powerful messages are shared across social media, community radio stations and even on national television, reaching wide audiences and sparking important conversations.
Why did we specifically choose hip hop? Artists in this field usually make observations about challenging issues within their environments aiming to inspire change. Great examples include Black Eyed Peas, Common, Lauryn Hill, and 2Pac. This is the key component of the intervention. Learners are encouraged to communicate in the language they are most comfortable with. By allowing young people to create in a language and medium that is familiar to them, the power shifts away from the knowledge specialists (usually scientists or researchers), towards the young people who develop new contextual knowledge that has relevance and meaning in their lives.
The intervention can be applied across a range of pressing social issues. For example, in one instance, in consultation with public health experts, the overarching theme of water and health was selected due to its pertinence to the target communities, as well as being a public health topic around which participants could have a level of influence. But in other cases, it’s been applied around the mental health issues related to students starting at a university, and as a harm prevention strategy for those living with high risks of TB and HIV.
This project exemplifies our passion and commitment towards innovative, youth-driven processes that bridge the gap between science and society and allow for connection, co-creation and creativity – towards a brighter future for all.
