Hali Halisi [Film]

Hali Halisi, which means “the real situation” in Swahili, is a documentary about rap as an alternative medium for urban youth in Tanzania and Zanzibar. This 30-minute documentary was filmed in 1999 by the Madunia Music Foundation, a non-profit non-governmental organisation based in the Netherlands that promotes African music and supports local initiatives of African musicians. The film aims to discuss the pros and cons of hip hop as an effective medium for communication and an instrument for social change, using the example of Tanzanian “emcees” (rappers) and the positive messages of their rap in Swahili to fuel the debate.

Hip hop as a social movement claims to have its historical roots in alternative politics and a voice for the oppressed, however, its reliability as a source of education and moral influence has been questioned in light of the consumerist, sexist and violent ideologues that have become associated with mainstream Western hip hop music. Hali Halisi seeks to open minds to the concept of African hip hop as a tool for youth empowerment, advocacy and awareness about issues that it considers central to urban development, such as HIV/AIDS and its stigma, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, racism, and African history, particularly since its roots are traditionally oral. The producer of the film, Thomas Gesthuizen, who is also editor of Africanhiphop.com, perceives youth as frequently portrayed in negative roles in the media, such as child soldiers or petty thieves, thus undermining their role as agents for change in African development. Rap provides an alternative medium for communication: "Newspapers, magazines and educational radio are not always the best media, while special media for youth are scarce, too expensive, or hardly reach their audience… Music gets everywhere, it is not hampered by illiteracy of the receiver or bad distribution."

Hali Halisi has been recognised internationally for its efforts. In November 2004, the film was awarded Best Short Documentary at the Hip-Hop Odyssey (H2O) film festival in New York. It has also been shown at the Zanzibar Film Festival (2001) and the Vancouver International Hip Hop Film Festival in Canada (2004). It was broadcast in Tanzania by ITV while webportal Aka.com showed parts of it online in 2001.