Putos Qui A Ta Cria

Lisbon, as many other European capitals, is rich of

contradictions: not far from the paradise-like beaches, harbours, private neighbourhoods, sightseeings and expensive places there are slums and social

quarters in which mostly African immigrants live.

As is often the case, immigrant communities are stigmatised by society and made responsible for all sorts of problems. For young people, immigrants or so-colled second generations, this is problematic

from two sides. They are excluded from the society in the country in which they were born and live, and they are excluded from the society in the countries where there parents were born and lived.

One way of expressing this dilemma and the frustrations it brings along has always been music. It is one of the few ways in which the young Portuguese minority of African ethnical origin engages with their situation pro-actively.



Target group



The project wants to work directly with 15 young rappers who have strong connections with their local community in different neighbourhoods around Lisbon. Through the music, the project addresses

a much higher number of African-Portuguese young people living in the social quarters

surrounding the capital.



Aim of the project



The project seeks to empower local youth rappers to work together

on a common musical project addressed to African-Portuguese

youth and aiming to prevent violence and stimulate understanding,

dialogue and co-operation across between African minority groups

and across borders of different social quarters of Lisbon.



Impact of the project



The project has managed to attract and involve 15 young rappers from different neighbourhoods

in three municipalities around Lisbon. These rappers, all of which were involved in some form of

minority youth organisation or group in their respective quarter, worked together for several

months on lyrics and music for a number of songs.



The group came together for an initial 4-days training on human rights, participation, citizenship

as well as group work and using music in non-formal learning. During these initial days they decided

on their name which means “the kids that are growing”.

For months, they continued to meet

every two weeks in rotation in a

different neighbourhood, combining

their progress on the music project with

getting to know the different realities

around Lisbon.

The texts which they developed,

discussed, questioned, explored and

agreed together reflect these

experiences. They deal with social

exclusion, with gender equality, with the

right to access information, with

schooling and many other issues and

problems not only relevant for the team

of rappers but also for the African-Portuguese youth – their audience.

Breaking up stereotypes and prejudices about other suburbs was part of the educational approach

as much as identifying ways and means to do something pro-actively, to find an alternative to being

and feeling excluded. Consequently, the lyrics of the songs are very well researched, well

written and, while being realistic, they are much more positive than often assumed.



A

CD and a DVD with rap music, completely conceived by the participants

were recorded finally. The young people organised a youth

festival dedicated to the realisation that another world was possible

for young people with difficulties.



During the work on the CD and DVD they also had the chance to experience working with Internet tools. Another result was a TV interview and distribution of sound tracks on the internet.



Este projecto foi financiado pela Comunidade Europeia através da medida 3 do Programa JUVENTUDE - Iniciativas Jovens.