Modenine and Stogie T backstage at the 18th Annual Back To The City Hip-Hop Festival, South Africa
Downtown Johannesburg pulsated with raw energy in October 2024 as the 18th annual Back to the City Hip-Hop Festival—Africa’s largest and most exhilarating celebration of hip-hop—took over the city. After spending more than six years living in South Africa on and off, I finally dove into this legendary experience for the very first time, and it was absolutely electrifying.
Known as one of the largest gatherings of hip-hop culture on the continent, it has become an annual ritual for tens of thousands of music enthusiasts. This year, it brought together over eighteen thousand people of all ages, from young fans experiencing the scene for the first time to seasoned veterans who have witnessed the growth of hip-hop in South Africa. My day at the festival was filled with meaningful conversations, dynamic performances, and a profound sense of safety and community that left a lasting impression. Kudos to the founder Osmic Menoe and his team for doing such a great job paying homage to hip-hop in an extremely positive way.
The day began with a panel discussion at the South African Hip-Hop Museum in Newtown, which focused on the theme of “Hip-Hop and Healing.” This session was co-hosted by the Heal the Hood organization of Cape Town and explored pressing issues facing the hip-hop community, such as mental health and well-being, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and gender equality. It was a powerful reminder that hip-hop is not just a genre of music but a social movement that can be a tool for addressing the challenges faced by marginalized communities. The panelists consisted of a legendary South African artist and activist, Emile YX?, and Howard University Professor Msia Kibona Clark (African hip-hop author and expert), who spoke about the role of hip-hop as a space for expression and resilience, highlighting how the culture provides a platform for confronting trauma and advocating for social justice. This discussion resonated deeply with me, considering my own work in public health and social advocacy. It felt like the perfect introduction to the festival, setting the tone for a day that celebrated both the artistic and the community-based spirit of hip-hop.
