Rapping for Change in Senegal
Sister Fa takes the 2011 Freedom to Create Prize
Last November, Sister Fa took the Freedom to Create Main Prize in 2011 for her devoted work to raising awareness on the traumatic and harmful consequences of female genital mutilation. The Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the courage and creativity of artists, and the positive influence of their work to promote social justice and inspire the human spirit.
Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, Sister Fa first began rapping in 2000, and released her first solo-album in August 2005. Her Education sans Excision (Education without Cutting) tour through Senegal was inspired by the wish to motivate change. Working in cooperation with the NGO Tostan, Sister Fa has inspired the inhabitants of her home village, Thionck Essyl, to officially abandoned the practice of cutting young girls.
She continues to use her art and influence to work towards the end of this destructive practice. Earlier this month, she met with artists to provide a course on the subject of FGC. The artists are working together on a music compilation, and will be part of the tour planned for late spring this year in Senegal which is bringing awareness to the need to abandon the practice of FGC and the impact that this practice has on the rights of women and girls.
“Sister Fa is an inspiring example of how many artists around the world are using their talent to stand up for social justice and in defence of human dignity.” – Freedom to Create
Sister Fa will be playing her first ever UK show on Feb 6, 2012 at Union Chapel Bar in London, where she will be celebrating the progress made to date to end Female Genital Cutting on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGC.