In the West African nation, Guinea, which some economists fear could collapse amid bad governance, the musical style of rapping offers the only voice of popular dissent.
[A leading voice is] the Guinean rap album called "Son Galanyi." One fan, purchasing the tape at a market stall, explains the meaning of the album's title.
"It means a sound of thunder, sound of thunder," he said. "That's why I like it, it's just about the struggle that is going on in the country. There is no job for the boys, for the youths. People are struggling. That's why I like it."
A market vendor fumbles through the many rap tapes he is selling. He is all out of Son Galanyi, because the album is so popular. He refuses to be interviewed. Many Guineans, including opposition leaders, shy away from directly discussing anything critical of President Lansana Conte. The former soldier has been in power since a coup in 1984. Recently, there has been growing unemployment, elections tainted by cheating, rumors of coup plots and riots against rising prices of rice.
The rappers behind Son Galanyi discuss all these problems.Using a mixture of French, Soussou, Malinke and Fulani, they openly denounce what Water is scarcer and scarcer in Guinea they view as Mr. Conte's misrule...
