Hiplife is about to get a creative jolt of sorts as hip-hop artistes from Germany and France descend on Accra next week.? Under the guidance and support of the Alliance Française and Goethe Institut, the two camps of conscious, forward-thinking hip-hop artistes, along with a handful of Ghana’s finest artistes, will spend a week exchanging knowledge and experiences through a series of workshops and performances, culminating in a final concert at the Alliance Française on Saturday 21st May. ?

The concert will feature Fu Infanterie, a collective of artistes from France, German group Bantu, and a select few of Ghana’s creative minds, all in an effort to raise cross-cultural awareness about the ways in which hip-hop and hiplife are used in the social and cultural life of the three countries.? As part of the project, the artistes will collaborate to compose works to be presented at the concert on 21st May.

Coming from diverse backgrounds, each of the artistes will have something unique to bring to the table, as they trade musical ideas with the aim of putting together new, collaborative music.

Bantu, who have worked with the likes of UB40 and Gentleman, are an Afro-German group with a socially conscious bent who have been making serious waves in the German hip-hop scene for several years now.? A series of albums and singles released in Europe and Nigeria have established Bantu as a Pan-Africanist blend of rap, afro-beat, and reggae with an ear tuned to the social and political issues facing Germany and West Africa. ?

From France, comes the crew Fu Infanterie.? Currently bubbling up from the underground into international recognition, this multicultural collective represents a cross-section of French hip-hop sensibilities.? Section Fu and Octobre Rouge are the two groups within the larger collective, both of whom are produced by veteran French MC and beat maestro Voodoo.? Fu Infanterie also includes a graffiti artist, Dexter, who should surprise those of us who have never seen hip-hop graffiti before.?? ?

The idea of such a diverse group of artists working together is exciting and no one is quite sure what to expect, but with the inclusion of some of ghana’s brightest it is bound to be sweet.? The Alliance Française and Goethe Institut know the project will strengthen ties between the individuals, as well as the countries, involved.? With hiplife artistes currently doing all they can to take their music to the international level, this project will certainly help push matters along.