Uganda Hip-Hop Foundation

Had the pleasure of meeting Krazy Native, a.k.a. Saba Saba (MC with the infamous Bataka crew) and Francis Agaba (hip-hop activist) from the Uganda Hip-Hop Foundation while I was in South Africa. They gave a talk at the EYA's World Urban Cafe about the work that they're doing in UG. The organization runs a weekly hip-hop night, a web site, and does educational tours about hip-hop activism in schools throughout Uganda and the African continent.

Krazy Native also heads a community anti-drugs/anti-poverty youth organization called Bavubuka All Stars. He founded Bavubuka after discovering an infant in a dumpster while filming a music video in the slums of Kampala. [Edit: Actually, I got this wrong. The foundation was officially started by Babaluku and Aaron Kim Elton in Canada. Krazy Native was the representative in Uganda.] He paid a woman $20 to look after the baby while he was on tour. He came back several weeks later and adopted the girl. Her name is Aaliyah and she's now a year old. It only took 20 bucks to save her life.

Krazy Native recently released a single "Tuja Babya," which was nominated for Best Hip Hop Single and Best New Artist of the year in the PAMA (Pearl of Africa Music Awards) in East Africa 2005. You can check the video here (L.A.'s DJ 3rdi is shooting a documentary about UG hip-hop called "Diamonds in the Rough." He also shot KN's vid.)

You can hear a hot KN/Bataka track here (select "Uganda Project," then "Audio," then "Wansi Wagulu"). I love the hook! Saw KN do the track live a couple of times in Joburg and I was humming it all the way back to Canada.

Big shout out to Krazy Native, Francis, Babaluku (a.k.a. Mr. Africa), and DJ 3rdi.