Sounds of Wahala
Stagione 1
di Tiwa Odukoya and Yasmin El Beih
In our final episode this season, Yasmin speaks to British-Sierra Leonean lyricist and storyteller Alim Kamara. As a young person in London, Alim grappled with racism and other challenges, only to find meaning in hip hop; with time, he realizes the genre isn't too dissimilar of an art form from the West African stories he had been enthralled by during his brief years growing up in his parents' homeland. Today, Alim tours the world to inspire young people through storytelling and rap. Our chat is an engaging conversation on role models, relationships, ambition, impact, islamophobia, as well as Africa's often-ignored, yet historical, contributions to philosophy, culture and science. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram.
Sliteneliten are six-piece feminist folk punk group from Norway who describe themselves as a “political telegram.” This week, Tiwa chats with the band to discuss their debut album and how it tackles marxism and hustle culture, the fragmentation of the Left and grass-roots activism. They are an infectious group, bursting with great energy and intelligence. We’re know you’re going to love what these talented musical-activists have to say. Plus you’ll get to hear snippets from their self-titled album which is now available on major streaming platforms. Search: ‘Sliteneliten’ Follow us on Instagram: @soundsofwahala
Satyarth Gurazada is the one-man creative powerhouse behind Dread Culture, which is part of India's small-yet-growing Afrobeat and Reggae music scene. Growing up as a Kenyan of Indian descent, Satyarth listened to the likes of Bob Marley and Fela Kuti from a very young age. Today, as a pan-African believer living Bangalore, Satyarth is trying to bridge the gap between the continent of his birth and the region he now calls home--through music. He is driven by a conviction that music can be instrumental in social movements such as anti-racism and anti-casteism, and is trying to carve the way for his very own sub-subgenre, "Afro-carnatic" music. Listen to his chat this week with Yasmin. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram today.
In this week's episode, Tiwa meets with The Middle - an Australian rapper who uses his platform as a social project to galvanise people against apathy. Our insightful conversation discusses everything from the evolution of activism in hip hop, to the aftermath of the Australian bushfires and what exactly prevents us from taking a stand against the injustices we observe in our society. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram today.
This week, Yasmin has a candid conversation with singer-songwriter Maysa Daw. We discussed Arab identity, how music can impact communities, the unexpected downsides of passport privilege, the false illusion of an existing binary separating powerful and “vulnerable” women, the influence of politics under an immensely dismal reality, and so much more. Growing up, Maysa dreamed of performing with the Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, who are widely acclaimed for their fierce, socially engaged lyrics. She eventually joined the band in 2015, and together they released the provocative, musically rich album “Ben Haana Wa Maana” in 2019. The album tackles themes ranging from patriarchy to apartheid, and is likely to spark the intrigue of social activists and newcomers alike. Maysa's collaborations with other artists, and her own solo work, is also commendably creative in addressing socio-political realities, rallying for a more peaceful, egalitarian future. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram.
In episode 3, Tiwa is joined by Funeral Lakes - a Canadian indie rock duo that use their music to both voice social change issues, as well as make meaningful change in their community. We talk about the climate emergency and its impending eco-anxiety, indigenous land rights and solidarity in Canada and the role of punk music in activism today. Join us as we discuss these ever-important issues whilst hearing snippets of their timely and relevant EP: Golden Season. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram
This week, Yasmin sits down with Palestinian musician Jowan Safadi to discuss the changing nature of resistance, "artivism" as a catalyst for change and the role of creativity under a context where indigenous culture is erased to make way for settler colonialism. Jowan is known across the Arab world for his sarcastic, political and often controversial lyrics, and he has a growing following internationally. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram
We sit down with MeAgainstMisery to discuss his debut album: Songs from the Divided Kingdom. Written during the global pandemic, this album explores Welsh Independence, our apathetic society and the what a future would look like in a post-pandemic world. In this episode we will discuss these issues as well as hear snippets of this timely and relevant album. Follow @soundsofwahalapodcast on Instagram
Welcome to Sounds of Wahala: a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Tiwa Odukoya and Yasmin El Beih, exploring the soundcapes of music activism. In this podcast, we will sit down with artists from all over the world to understand how their socio-political landscape shapes their music and creative process. Can music be a weapon? What even defines a protest song? Does music still play a role in activism in the digital age?