As part of Black History month at Algoma University College, the Great West Amphitheatre was as scene of celebration of African culture in a grand scale today.
To make this film, K'naan returned to east Africa for the first time since leaving his birthplace of Mogadishu, Somalia at the age of 13.
"I am trying to bring to light a struggle that I am personally involved in," said K'naan. "But I'm trying to do it in a dignified way."
For more information on K'naan, check out his website.
******************* Algoma University College Media Release
On Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 1 p.m. (in the Great West Life Amphitheatre) Algoma U presents from the National Speakers Bureau, the 4Real Project featuring Sol Guy and K'Naan. Admission is $5.
K’Naan and Sol Guy take strong messages of global interdependence to students throughout North America using speech, video and music as their unique vehicles for change.
Sol has been an influential contributor to the rise of Hip Hop culture.
His combined experience of running an independent label, artist management, producing, consulting, and full-time employment at major record labels has provided him with a well-rounded view of the music industry.
He has worked closely with some of the highest profile black music artists of our time such as Lauryn, P Diddy, India Arie, Rascalz, The Roots, Outkast, Dead Prez and more.
Guy is now focusing all of his experience and expertise on new areas of mass media.
His mission is to use music, film, television and Hip Hop culture as a vehicle for change, promoting self-love and empowerment for global youth.
At the age of 9, K'naan was doing what most American kids were doing.
He was hanging out on his neighborhood street corner, MC'ing for his friends.
He was, however very different from those American kids, he wasn’t on the streets of New York or Los Angeles or Detroit; he was on the other side of the world on the dusty streets of Mogadishu, Somali.
From a personal and cultural history rooted in poetry (being the grandson of one of Somalia's most famous poets), K’naan widens the traditional hip hop perspective.
Leaving Somalia at the age of thirteen, amidst a crumbling society and the end to this day of any form of central government, K'naan carried with him a very strong sense of purpose.
In 2001 after gaining notoriety as a skilled mc and spoken word poet, K'naan was invited to Geneva to perform a spoken word piece at the 2001 50th anniversary of the UN Commission for Refugee's.
The audience was so moved by the piece that they gave him a standing ovation and African superstar Youssou N'Dour invited K'naan to Senegal to record with him.
Similarly, in Toronto in 2002 while recording a verse for a War Child benefit album his unique flow caught the attention of artist/producer Jarvis Church, one half of the Grammy award winning production team Track and Field (Nelly Furtado).
From there began a creative partnership that would lead to the creation of K'naan's first full length album "The Dusty Foot Philosopher."
*******************