Wednesday, August 7, 2013

To be a Gazan in Tahrir

Politically charged Palestinian rap provides an outlet to express frustration towards Hamas.

By Mark LeVine
Al-Jazeera

"In the months leading up to the removal of President Morsi, Palestinians became an increasing object of distrust and even attack in the Egyptian media. This situation has continued since his ouster, as the media has reinforced the sense that Egyptians are besieged by domestic and foreign forces that threaten its security and even soul. Yet Palestinians were in many ways a primary inspiration for the first revolutionary wave of 2011 through their actions during the al-Aqsa intifada and the history of Palestine solidarity groups on Egyptian campuses, where many of the key revolutionary activists first became politically engaged.
 
Mohammed Antar is one of Gaza's growing crop of celebrated rappers, whose songs well capture the grim realities and lack of choices that represent life as a constant prisoner in the tiny Strip and the sometimes desperate attempts by youth to assert some autonomy and power in the present situation.

Antar has been staying in Cairo the last several months and sat down with Mark LeVine to discuss his experiences as a Gazan in Cairo today, the situation in Gaza, and the ongoing role of art in revolutionary struggles......"

No comments: