Dakar - IOM, the UN Migration Agency, in Senegal is supporting the 13^th edition of the International Festival of Hip-Hop and Urban Cultures (Festival international de Hip Hop et des cultures urbaines- Festa2H) which opened on 20 June 2018, at Maison de la Culture Douta Seck in Dakar. The Festival brings together Hip-Hop artists from 13 countries (Senegal, United States, Belgium, Morocco, Canada, Norway, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Mauritania, DRC, Guinea, Mali, and Cameroon) committed to combat irregular migration.

"This edition marks the 30^th anniversary of the Hip-Hop movement in Senegal and we are bringing together pioneers and young people to brainstorm on the contribution of the hip-hop movement to the social development of our societies and take the opportunity to actively engage them in raising awareness against irregular migration, which causes disasters and essentially affects young people," explains Amadou Fall BA, Festival Project Manager. 

"Hip-Hop is at the heart of all social developments and we are using all the necessary approaches to raise awareness on the dangers of irregular migration," says Sophie Nonnenmacher, Chief of Mission of IOM Senegal.

The Festival, organized by the Africulturban association, is a key platform to explain the Hip Hop movement, articulated around rap music, graffiti, breakdance and Deejaying.

The Festival, which runs until Saturday 23 June, brings together over 100 music groups and over 16,000 people.

For more information, please contact:

• Association Africulturban: Amadou Fall BA, Project Manager festa2hfestival@googlemail.com
• International Organization for Migration: El Hadji Saidou Nourou DIA, Communications Point focal, OIM Senegal : ehsndia@iom.int