Tunisian women hip-hop their way into a male-dominated scene

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Creators behind an all-female hip-hop album promoting gender equality in Tunisia hope it will encourage women to break free from social norms.

Women rappers say their art is usually less recognised in a male-dominated scene and social norms deeming rap and hip-hop as inappropriate forms of expression for women in Tunisia.

Despite starting a career in rap 10-years-ago, Tunisian rapper Nesrine Mokdad aka Anonymous says she is still trying to find her place and break free from social norms.

Discouraged by her family, the 36-year-old mother of one says she feels sometimes hurt.

“I ask myself several times why I do rap,” she says. “I say that I do it for myself… I sing to my son, I sing for the future generations and for anyone who wants to listen.”

Hip-hop soon grew to be a pillar of the Tunisian art scene after the 2011 mass protests that toppled former president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. It is particularly popular among youth who say it represents an alternative to mainstream music.

The album, made by La Fabrique Art Studio hopes the project would help aspiring women rappers to boost their musical careers and pave the way for new talent, studio co-founder Mohamed Ben Slama said.

The project helps artists write lyrics, produce songs and distribute them online and on social media platforms. A festival is expected to be launched to present the women artists next year.

2 years ago