The Next Level Programme, an international initiative promoting cultural exchange and empowerment through Hip Hop, concluded a vibrant three-day workshop last week in Maun.
The event graduated over 25 participants who honed skills in the core elements of Hip Hop namely DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti art.
According to Billi Free, the site manager of Next Level, the workshops were designed to nurture passion for Hip Hop and equip participants with transferable skills. “These workshops cater to individuals passionate about Hip Hop, helping them strengthen their basics in the four elements. We wanted to build talents, give them a space for creative expression, and create opportunities for networking and future collaborations,” Free said.
The workshop brought together a diverse team of facilitators and participants, blending local talents with veteran and emerging artists from the U.S., the programme’s originating country. Renowned figures such as Odirile Setshwantsho, popularly known as ‘Sick O,’ and choreographer Anthony Denaro, also known as “YNOT,” enriched the experience with their expertise.
One of the workshop’s highlights was a choreographed dance sequence led by YNOT, showcasing a blend of Hip Hop and Afrobeat styles.
The final day culminated in a free public performance where the vibrant fusion of art forms was on full display. Against a backdrop of aerosol and graffiti murals created during the workshop, DJ Queen HD electrified the audience with her record-scratching skills, while MC Mikal engaged the crowd with powerful rhymes bringing together a cypher-like session of local and established rappers who displayed their lyrical prowess.
“DJing is about influencing people’s moods and allowing them to lose themselves in the music,” explained Hope Burley, known as ‘DJ Queen HD,’ who facilitated the DJing sessions.
Similarly, aerosol artist D Gale reflected on the impact of graffiti, saying, “We capture the realism of life and leave our stories on the wall for everyone to see.”
The MCing class, partly coordinated by local artist Veezo View, focused on key elements like cadence and rhythm. “We’re proud of the talent we’ve seen here in such a short time,” he said.
The Next Level Programme, supported by the US Department of State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, aims to foster cultural understanding, community building, and social empowerment through Hip Hop. By engaging participants in creative outlets and addressing themes like social justice, the program continues to inspire globally.
As the event came to a close, the workshop’s spirit lingered. An empty spray paint can, signed by the artists, stood as a symbolic memento of the creativity, connection, and energy that defines Hip Hop.
Free captured the sentiment best, “Hip Hop is a culture. Hip Hop is a movement. It started before us, but it’s here to stay, to build, to grow people, and most of all, to let us form connections that could last a lifetime.”
