Messages by Music – Senegal in Transition

Synopsis

The traditional musicians in Senegal were in charge of retaining the history of their ethnic group, along with ways of thinking and behaving. Their aim was to conserve the society. Nowadays the griots have lost much of their importance. Their world is vanishing, but not their methods. Awadi, one of the first and best known rappers in Western Africa, picked up the method of the griots to launch his message to the people. But unlike the griots, his aim is to change society. Awadi is fighting Pan-Africanism, a movement which can’t be understood without having colonialism and its still lasting after-effects in mind. This films offers an insight into contemporary Senegalese society, reflecting its ethnic, linguistic, religious and musical diversity.