(photo by Akintola Hanif)

Brooklyn-based Sierra Leonean photographer and educator Delphine Fawundu-Buford has been documenting hip hop for over a decade. In the 90s she traveled to South Africa to document the emerging hip hop secen in countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast. Now working on a series on Afropolitans to be exhibited at the “Digital Media + Culture in Africa” panel organized by Society HAE during Social Media Week in New York City, Fawundu-Buford  says wants to capture a powerful movement that’s “making moves on a global scale.”

We spoke with Fawundu-Buford about her love for hip hop, and its impact in Africa.

AfriPOP: Your latest work explores explores hip-hop culture in Africa. How is hip hop culture expressed in African culture?
Delphine Fawundu-Buford: From my exploration, I find the core of hip-hop culture to be synonymous with African culture. When you are actually on the continent it is expressed in many different ways. Sometimes the MC is rapping in an African language with a hybrid between African and Westernized sounds. Or, at times the MC is rapping in English with a hard core African sound. I am mostly intrigued by the music that is socially conscious or is just pure storytelling in an African way.

When did you first fall in love with hip hop?
My first experience with hip-hop culture was listening to Rapper’s Delight being played on my brother’s turn table. My brother was a DJ so he would always engage in these DJ Battles in Brooklyn. I went to one battle in my apartment building. I remember being very young, in my PJ’s sitting on the floor taking it all in.  Music booming from the speakers, break dancing, popping and locking and plenty of boasting. I was in awe..and certainly in love with it all.

When did you first recognize that hip hop was a force in Africa?
When I visited South Africa for the first time in 1995. Prior to that I was aware of MC Solaar, from Senegal, but I really got a taste of how hip-hop was received on the continent when I experienced it for myself in South Africa.

Who have been your favorite Africa hip hop artists to photograph?
I must say that I enjoyed photographing all of the artists. However, I enjoyed the circumstances in which I photographed Wanlov Kubolor at his home in Ghana. I ate the best Red Red stew and plantains that I’ve ever tasted in my life! There was live music being played, art on the walls, just a purely artistic vibe. I also really enjoyed photographing Keur Gui in Senegal. Although, I had to use a translator, I still felt the energy and love for through their gestures and facial expressions.  Also, I was a fan of theirs prior to doing the interview, so it was pretty cool.

Which African hip hop acts are you most excited about at the moment?
I’m most excited about artists like Naeto C, Wanlov Kubolor, Kahli Abdu, Modenine, Keur Gui, Spoek Mathambo and Sasha P.

Finish the sentence: An Afropolitan is…making powerful moves on a global scale.

Finish the sentence: I celebrate my Africanness because…it is who I am and I love being me.

Catch Delphine Fawundu’s portraits of emerging African artists and cultural curators at the “Meet The Afropolitans: Digital Media + Culture In Africa” panel at Social Media Week, Monday, February 13, 2012.

Click here to RSVP and get more info.