Sidney For Ouaga Hip Hop Festival

Hiplifer, Sidney, is in the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou to participate in this year's edition of the Waga Hip Hop Festival.

The festival has been an annual affair since 2003. For the past nine years, it has been held in locations in Burkina Faso including Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Pô, Ouahigouya, Koudougou and Fada N' Gourma.

It is a free, open-air festival and is widely regarded as one of the important cultural events in West Africa.

Sidney's Africa Monie from his Barima Bi Ba album, made serious waves in Francophone Africa. Sidney, who has already performed in Burkina Faso and Equitorial Guinea this year, admits it is the song that brought him to the attention of the festival organisers.

The song borrowed heavily from Ivorian star Jeff Bogolobogo's Alhaji song. Sidney said he decided to sing in English and utilise Francophone rhythms as a way of getting the song patronised in French-speaking Africa as well.

“I didn't have Ghana alone in mind when I recorded the song. I knew I could appeal across the sub-region and across the continent and feedback from several places indicated that people liked the lyrics and rhythm. I'm happy it made the desired impact,” Sidney said in a chat before leaving for Ouagadougou where he will perform tomorrow at the festival which started yesterday and ends on Sunday.

Some of the programmes at the festival which is parading a line-up of national and international performers, include “The African Cup” of Rap, The National Clash Party, A Break Dance Battle, and A Slam Contest.

A hip hop seminar will also be held with the purpose of uniting and growing the African hip hop industries.