'To skip a step': new representation(s) of migration, success and politics in Senegalese rap and theatre

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Periodical article

Title:	'To skip a step': new representation(s) of migration, success and politics in Senegalese rap and theatre
Author:	Ludl, Christine
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Stichproben - Vienna Journal of African Studies
Volume:	8
Issue:	14
Pages:	97-122
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Senegal
Subjects:	popular culture theatre migration politics
External link:	https://stichproben.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_stichproben/Artikel/Nummer14/Nr14_Ludl.pdf
Abstract:	Over the last few years, Senegal saw the emergence of new representations of migration and success in cultural productions. These contrast with earlier representations of success, notably the 'myth of the intellectual', and focus on individual effort as expressed by the 'bul faale' movement in the late 1990s. This movement 'democratized' success, which had now come within everyone's reach. The present article describes these new representations and shows how they are taken up by two strands of cultural production, namely rap and theatre. Particular attention is paid to two recent plays dealing with migration - 'Le clan du destin' performed by the company Les Gueules Tapées and 'Partir' by the company Kocc Barma. Finally, the article discusses how cultural production is linked to politics. Drawing on the concepts of representation(s) and imagination, the article shows how these can be used to re-conceptualize the relationship between cultural production and politics. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]