“Almost all young people in this quarter cherish the German variant of hip-hop music, known here as ‘Deutschrap’. It is the heartbeat of my generation. About three years ago, I started freestyling rhymes in the presence of close friends. Initially, it was just a hobby rooted in light-hearted banter, mostly involving me expressing my thoughts in the form of spoken words. But then, over time, it assumed a lyrical form. Everyone in my circle kept encouraging me with uplifting remarks, telling me that I possessed a natural talent for vocal performance and songwriting. This further pushed me to put in more work and dedication towards fine tuning my lyrical abilities. So I eventually decided to turn my hobby into a career goal, which I also aim to use as a platform for the kind of activism that I envision for my future. Truthfully, I would love nothing more than being a voice for the voiceless by means of transmitting meaningful messages in my music. In a way, it is my approach to connecting with others. And one day I want to be a living example which perfectly illustrates that one can achieve anything in this country, regardless of one’s skin colour or economic status. My dream is to become the first rap star of Somali origin who reaches the top in Germany’s billboard charts so as to give back to my family and community. Sadly, my parents didn’t approve of my dream at first, and it took a little while until they gave me their blessings. Yet I hope that there will come a day when they’ll see beauty in what I’ve built from the ground up.”
(Münster, Germany)
“Dhallinyarta oo dhan, in yar mooyaane, waxay aad u jecel yihiin muusigga hip-hop-ka ee Jarmalka ah, halkanna looga yaqaanno ‘Deutschrap’. Waa wadnaha jiilkayga. Saddex sanno ka hor waxa aan bilaabay in aan tixo sameeyo oo aan la wadaago asxaabtayda. Waxay iigu bilaabantay jacayl aan u qabo iyo wax aan ku kaftanno oo aan fikirkayga ku gudbiyo ereyo. Balse muddo ka dib waxa ay isu beddeshay suugaan. Qof kasta oo ii dhow wuu igu dhiirrigelin jirey isagoo ii sheegaya in aan ku wacanahay samaynta ereyada ee bandhiggooda. Taas ayaa ii sahashay in aan sii qurxiyo oo aan ereyo cuddoon soo bandhigo. Markaas ayaan shaqo dhab ah ka dhigtay oo aan rejaynayo in uu noqoto meel aan kaga hadlo caqabadaha taagan iyo kuwa mustaqbalkaba. Runtii waxaan jeclaan lahaa in aan u hadlo cid kasta oo aan haysan cid dhegaysata aniga oo ereyo micno leh ku soo gudbinaya heesahayga. Dhan marka laga eego, taasi waxa ay ii sahlaysaa in aan u dhowaado dadka kale. Waxaan rabaa in aan tusaale cad u noqdo in dalkan wax kasta laga noqon karo, iyada oo aan la eegayn midabkaaga ama dhaqaalahaaga. Riyadaydu waa in aan noqdo heesaa weyn oo Soomaali ah oo gaadha heerka ugu sarreeya ee muusigga Jarmalka si aan ugu Abaal celiyo qoyskayga iyo bulshadayda. Nasiibdarro, waalidkay ma oggolayn riyadayda markii hore, waxaanay ku qaadatay muddo in ay iigu duceeyaan. Laakiin weli waxaan rejaynayaa in ay maalin uun arkaan quruxda iyo heerka uu gaadhay wixii aan hoosta ka soo bilaabay.”
(Münster, Jarmal)
