American Hip hop idols to perform in the country

Two American Hip-hop musicians have been hired by the US Embassy to Rwanda, to perform as part of the Cultural Exchange Programme between the two countries, US Embassy source has confirmed.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Garcia and Goddess talking to journalists during a Press Conference, at Kigali Serena Hotel. (Photo, by H. Fidele Goodman).

Two American Hip-hop musicians have been hired by the US Embassy to Rwanda, to perform as part of the Cultural Exchange Programme between the two countries, US Embassy source has confirmed.

Rha Goddess and Ana Garcia arrived in the country on Monday, July 13, aboard Kenya Airways.

They are scheduled to perform in different parts of the country: Thursday, at Maison des Jeunes (Kimisagara), Saturday, in Musanze district and at the Petit Stade, on 22.

They will also visit different sites, including the Kigali Genocide site and golden monkeys trekking in Kinigi.

Goddess is a hip-hop musician, an author, activist and social entrepreneur, whist her colleague Garcia is a hip-hop dancer and choreographer.

The New York-based artists, who are in the country for their first time, praised the government of Rwanda for its rapid development, in political, social and economic aspects.

"It’s my greatest honour to visit the country. Rwanda is a very beautiful and peace country,” Goddess said. "The people are so beautiful and friendly.”

Goddess added that she is deeply committed to empower women through her music, and to help Rwanda’s upcoming hip-hop musicians to benefit from her talent.

"Women deserve their rights as human beings. They do a lot of the thankless and invisible work that actually keeps their society standing.”

Goddess and Garcia are ordinary musicians compared to the likes of Beyonce and  Christina Aguilera, but their music is very influential and has captured the world.

Goddess’s track "Elements” figuratively describes a connection between the four elements of nature and the four elements of hip-hop. She defines herself style as a blend of rhythm, poetry, hip-hop and politics.

Garcia, a.k.a Rokafella, sits vertically and pushes her long dark hair back to emphasis her point.

"Hip hop helps to empower women. We have to compromise with our femininity to be strong. Hip-hop makes us confident enough to compete with our male counterparts.”

Garcia added that their performances will help to shade more light in the country, and to help young musicians to gain proper hip-hop skills.