A HAVEN FOR HOMEGROWN HIP-HOP
The yoyo tinz festival – which celebrates hip-hop culture in Africa and is the first event of its kind in Ghana – returns in October. FLYafrica finds out more about the festival’s five days of rapping, breakdancing, beatboxing, graffiti and DJing.
M
edia platform yoyo tinz gets
the yoyo tinz festival, Ghana’s first
obsessed creatives who give their
its name from Ghanaian
hip-hop festival.
services for free – know how to put
slang for hip-hop –the
The five-day event launched last
on a party should be no surprise to
‘yo, yo’ refrain punctuates many a
November was a huge success with
anyone who has visited the show-
rapper’s flow – and has been docu-
more than 1,000 people descending
stopping ‘yoyo tinz shrine’ stage at
menting and promoting the rich and
on the La Raceway – the Tema venue
Chale Wote, which has proved one of
diverse but often misunderstood
was given such a transformative
the most lively and crowded places
music genre in Africa since 2013.
makeover for the festival it is now an
to be at the Accra annual street
in-demand location for video and
festival.
The non-profit organisation took its showcasing role – which includes
photo shoots – with activities includ-
in-depth articles and online video
ing film screenings, graffiti work-
Second year
documentaries on up-and-coming
shops, DJ sets, open mic sessions,
This year’s festival looks set to build
and established hip-hop talent as
rap battles, exhibitions and live music
on the success of the launch event
well as free-to-download mixtapes
concerts.
and promises a bigger audience,
of artists on its radar – to another level last year when it launched
That the yoyo tinz team – made up of young (all under 35) hip-hop
more international artists and more activities. It runs from Wednesday, FLYafrica
31
