Prime
Uniting Ugandan children through break-dance
The breakdown projects in Uganda inspired Bouncing Cats, a story about the healingpower of hip-hop in a war-torn nation.
Traditionally break-dance, as part of the hip-hop culture, is about establishing peace between two rivalling gangs. Wondering whether break-dance could have the same restorative capacity in Uganda, Abramz Tekya set up an outreach programme for disadvantaged youth in Kampala and Northern Uganda in 2006. The initial small project quickly expanded to a team of more than one thousand break-dancers. The Break Dance Project is more than an expressive outlet for young people; it teaches them social responsibility and leadership skills offering workshops on themes such as self-esteem and identity.
In northern Uganda, break-dance served an even greater purpose. It has been an important tool for peace and reconciliation in a post-conflict situation. Through the power of creative expression, young people in Gulu have been enabled to recreate their identity and feel part of a community that does not discriminate against sex, class or ethnic group.
“The wonderful thing about hip-hop and break-dance is that it is so inclusive. It relies on team effort. Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student. We offer our break-dance classes completely free of charge and allow anyone to join us. Break Dance Project Gulu is a non-profit organisation that thrives on manpower and team effort”, Josh, organiser of the project in Gulu, says in an interview with Daily Monitor. Any funding the project receives through its workshops and shows goes towards school fees for the children and exchange projects to broaden their cultural horizon.
The break-dance projects in Uganda have gained international allure thanks to the film Bouncing Cats by Nabil Elderkin. Bouncing Cats is the inspiring story of the healing powers of hip-hop in a war-torn nation. “All of us are so excited that the biggest break-dancer Crazy Legs came to Uganda visited our projects and taught our kids.” Bouncing Cats is making a huge impact in the hip-hop world at the moment. World famous dancer Richard ‘Crazy Legs’ Colon travelled through Uganda teaching youngsters the art of hip-hop and break-dance.
Bouncing Cats follows Abramz and Crazy Legs and has features of K’naan talking about Break Dance Project Uganda. The documentary not only follows their journey through Uganda but also shows how hip-hop culture can be used as an instrument for peace and reconciliation and lead to a positive social change. The result is an inspiring and heart warming movie, which has already received many accolades on various international film festivals.
