Last Saturday we went to a Gnaoua music festival in Essouria, a celebration of culture, art, and dance on the beach of Morocco. There were concerts around the city. Shows started at 4pm and went through the night. We secured interviews within a few hours of our arrival.
American main act performers Arrested Development were kind enough to give us an interview to explain their vision of empowering Africans through their concerts, speeches, and financial giving. Our team was very impressed with the groups candidacy and humbleness.
Front man MC Speech is a proponent of “conscious rap” as opposed to mainstream gangster rap. He chooses to write songs with a message to encourage and uplift people faced with the harsh realities of the world.
His music covers many themes he feels passionately about in the US and Africa. He sings about his relationship with God and speaks of incorporating traditional African values into his life. He believes African Americans and Africans can relate to his message of overcoming struggles. The group is led by elder Bob (“Bob-Bob”). Ishu, a backup singer and dancer, shared with us that she has family in Accra, Ghana.
The band is also accompanied by JJ, Tasha, “One Love” and Zay. Each band member gives to African charities of their choice.and the group was the first African American group to give to the African National League (ANC) in South Africa and after recently appearing on an ABC program gave to UNICEF in The Congo.
