The US Embassy, under their initiative ‘Arts Envoy 2024, Khulau Bolau’, held a workshop today titled, ‘Blending Sarangi and Hip Hop’, at Sangeet Pathshala, in Handigaun.

The Embassy invited four American hip-hop artists, Mazi Mutafa, Substantial, Shanna Lim and DJ Fleg, to empower youth to freely express themselves through art, promote cultural exchange and strengthen the people-to-people ties between Nepal and the US at the event.

Under this initiative, American artists will collaborate with Nepali rappers, dancers and producers to host workshops, discussions and performances with Nepali youth to train them in the technical aspects of spoken word, rap, production and dance. The organisers claim that these skills also serve as tools for both economic and social empowerment.

Mutafa is the founding executive director of Words Beats & Life, a hip-hop non-profit established in Washington DC in 2002. Substantial is an international hip-hop recording artist and producer, and DJ Fleg is a DJ and producer from Baltimore.

In the workshop, Mutafa, Substantial and DJ Fleg, took part in a cultural exchange workshop with a traditional Nepali band, Fusion Jatra, consisting of Prabesh Maharjan, Bidhan Shrestha and Sushant Shrestha.

At the workshop, the Nepali band to performed first, allowing the US delegates to listen and explore where they could blend modern hip-hop with traditional music.

At the workshop’s outset, Maharjan from Fusion Jatra introduced Nepali instruments to the US delegates, explaining their names and the nature of their sound. He started the performance with the tabla, followed by Bidhan on the flute and Sushant playing the Sarangi. The harmonious composition created an enjoyable atmosphere, with everyone nodding along to the music.

Once the band concluded their performance, the US delegates brainstormed ideas to blend it with hip-hop. DJ Fleg, upbeat and energetic, complimented the band, stating, “There was a very good energy and a sense of unity in your performance. Even though you were playing three instruments, the blend was impeccable,”

Gradually, Fleg and Mutafa began collaborating with the band, guiding them in blending the two genres. Mutafa, looking relaxed, commented, “The rhythms you guys created were really cool, and it was amazing to listen. In the future, we can collaborate further to create even better music.” After some time, there was a seamless fusion of traditional music with hip-hop, with DJ Fleg taking the lead.

The Embassy is arranging concerts in Kathmandu and Biratnagar, where American and Nepali hip-hop artists will celebrate the cultural significance of hip-hop and its historical role as a tool for social change and minority rights activism.

The first concert is scheduled for February 21 at Central Mall in Biratnagar. Four American artists from Words Beats & Life will perform alongside Nepal HipHop Foundation, Tharu Traditional Band and others. Likewise, another event will take place in the Valley at the Kathmandu Street Festival on February 24.