Street Slang Language Uganda

he major hip hop elements that have been primarily used are Deejaying, Graffiti, Breaking & Emceeing. For those who have documented hip hop from the indigenous context you will find that they have missed out on certain powerful components such as the Knowledge which is also known as the 5th element, Beat Boxing, Fashion, Street Language and the Entrepreneurial Spirit. Recently a few of these unexplored elements are starting to be embraced by young men and women who are seeking to contribute and strengthen the foundation of indigenous hip hop in Uganda. MORE ABOUT SZANIE -


Born in 1991 Szanie Lusiba Elvis is currently studying industrial art and design with education at Kyambogo University. He is a Painter, Jeweler, Sculptor, Emcee, Art Educator, Fashion Artist, member of Bavubuka Foundation and a creative partner of Bavubuka Dynasty. Having grown up in an indigenous hip hop community, he is a co-founder of The Urban Indigenous Lifestyle, a youth movement that celebrates the fusion of the urban culture of hip hop with traditional and contemporary African art. This movement is signified by its originality in the areas of music, art and fashion as well as its promotion of positivity and community focused lifestyle. Through Bavubukaʼs regional indigenous hip hop forums and outreach activities around Uganda, Szanie uses visual arts and live
creative painting workshops as tools to alleviate ignorance by tackling issues such as poverty, unemployment and social injustice. Using these same mediums he is able to empower with indigenous knowledge and educate on positive values. The impact Szanieʼs work has is life changing and leaves his fellow youth feeling appreciated and grateful for the life they are living. Szanieʼs desire to contribute to his communities and his country in this way sets him apart. Not only is he a gifted artist with the ability to market his pieces in the global market, he is passionate about passing his knowledge and talent on to his community and the next generation. Szanie feels that creating art to serve his community is nourishment for his soul and views it as important as food! Money is not his purpose. Szanie has exhibited at the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts, Laba Art Festival, Mishmash Gallery Café and Lounge,and also at the This is Uganda Festival all Annual Art and Cultural Festivals in Uganda. Through his committed efforts of community peace building with his Bavubuka family, he has become one of the first young men in Uganda’s Hip hop community to exhibit his work internationally at the Mocada Museum of the Arts in Brooklyn New York.

“My passion through my expression is to work with media like hand painted t-shirts, African fabricated jewelry, barkcloth, acrylics and sand on canvas to convey messages that rekindle the spirit of the youth and the community at large to celebrate life holistically preserving their heritage, Kulture and tradition”