Safe platform launched for women musicians to perform
● Stories of artists being ignored, asked for sexual favours, abused by producers leads to creation of EC event
From being overlooked and underestimated to sometimes being asked for sexual favours in exchange for gigs, the hip hop music industry continues to be a difficult space for women to navigate.
While it is slowly progressing, many dialogues to tackle women’s exclusion from the space are ongoing.
However, two Nelson Mandela Bay women hip hop heads believe one of the ways to uplift women in hip hop is by simply opening up safe platforms to celebrate their music.
The annual Women in Hip Hop Eastern Cape event aims to do just that.
The brainchild of Motherwell-born MC and dancer Nwabisa “Static Flo” Sume, Women in Hip Hop was launched in 2020 boasting an all-women virtual gathering of rappers and DJs, graffiti artists and more.
“Being around women in this industry has taught me that many have been taken for a ride in some way or other.
“We’ve had conversations where we’ve found that women have experienced abuse and been asked for sexual favours by male producers.
“Some have been raped or assaulted and some are simply being denied opportunities,” Sume said.
Women in Hip Hop EC is a movement under Temple of Skills, a company that Sume coowns with her husband, Siphiwo “Don Hood” Sume.
For the second instalment on October 9, Sume has collaborated with hip hop DJ and founder of Sam Jam Sessions Sam “Miss Jay” Jennings.
This collaboration will offer women a wider space and collaboration opportunities across both platforms.
Jennings founded Sam Jam
Sessions in 2017 with a similar aim to create a platform to celebrate the hip hop industry in the city.
“This collaboration allows these women who are participating in Women in Hip Hop EC access to Sam Jam Sessions.
“I was a part of last year’s event as a booked DJ but I really believe that we can achieve more together,” Jennings said.
While 2021 is the second instalment of Women in Hip Hop, it will be its first physical gathering.
The event will be held at Brick and Mortar in North End.
The day’s programme includes performances by Normsick, Rasatsha, Enteroudge
Phowkus, the Nolitha Dejavu Dance Crew and AJ and music by DJs Zazmoney and Sham Da Funk.
The event will be hosted by Bay DJ Lilanga.
Having been in the industry since she was in high school, Sume said she had first-hand experience of the battles faced by women in the industry.
“Being in the hip hop culture myself, this movement is my way of saying I know what women have to go through and I will do my best to fight for the next woman.
“I want it to be a safe space for all women that are part of the hip hop culture.”
Born into a family of artists — her mother was a poet and father a chorister — Sume started off in the industry as a hip hop dancer in high school and later branched into rap music.
She is now passionate about the wellbeing of other artists on the same path.
Women in Hip Hop EC will start at 1pm on October 9 at Brick and Mortar.