Beats & Strings Unite: US Hip-Hop Meets Nepali Sarangi

February 18, Kathmandu: The US Embassy in Nepal has continued its tradition of aquatinting Nepali populace with American popular arts and culture.

This year a hip-hop group has made it to Nepal to collaborate with Nepali artists to teach them the “tricks of the trade” of the genre, and also make Nepali masses aware of the birth of hip-hop, its role in activism, and its association with different progressive movements.

In 2023, an American mural artist, Man One, came to Nepal. He not only held workshops with budding artists of Kathmandu and Janakpur but also drew a mural showcasing Nepal’s cultural and artistic diversity in Kathmandu.

Building on the same tradition of cultural exchange, the US Embassy hosted a workshop titled “Blending Sarangi and Hip Hop; Khulau Bolau (let’s open up, let’s speak)”, as part of the Arts Envoy Program 2024.

 The event, held on Sunday at Sangeet Pathshala in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu brought together American hip-hop practitioners and Nepali traditional artists for a unique cross-cultural collaboration.

The workshop, a fusion of the traditional Nepali musical instrument Sarangi and the contemporary beats of hip-hop showcased the potential for a harmonious blend of two seemingly distinct genres.

American artists Mazi Mutafa, Substantial, Shanna Lim, and DJ Fleg engaged with Nepali artists providing hands-on experience in creating melodies that bridge the gap between Sarangi and hip-hop.

The Arts Envoy Program, running from February 16 to 26, marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop and its historical significance as a tool for social change. The program aims to empower Nepali youth to express themselves through art while fostering cultural exchange and strengthening ties between Nepal and the US

The workshop provided a platform for the artists to explore the fusion of traditional Nepali music with contemporary hip-hop elements. The concerts, in Biratnagar this Wednesday and in Kathmandu on Saturday, promises potential collaborations that highlight the richness of Nepali traditional music combined with the energetic beats of hip-hop.

As the US Embassy in Nepal continues to support artistic freedom and cross-cultural understanding, the “Blending Sarangi and Hip Hop” workshop was a testament to the power of music in bridging diverse cultures and fostering collaboration among artists from the opposite corners of the world.

The program not only celebrates the legacy of hip-hop but also serves as a platform for addressing social and economic issues and celebrating the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of Nepal.