Djeison Lumi is a beacon of sunshine illuminating the creativity of the Cabo Verdean diaspora overseas. Initially from Praia, Lumi has been rocking the Cabo Verdean rap sport for over half a decade. One in all his first hits “Nha Cidade,” launched in 2019, gained a lot reputation amongst Cabo Verdeans dwelling in and overseas.
New England is dwelling to an enormous Cabo Verdean diaspora, which isn’t stunning contemplating there are extra Cabo Verdeans dwelling overseas than in Cabo Verde. Final yr, even President José Maria Neves visited a college in Boston and spoke at a Cabo Verdean group occasion. In “Nha Cidade,” Lumi swiftly spits round fast-paced, drill-infused beats reflecting on his time in Boston compared to Cabo Verde. The music video is about with varied sceneries from native parks in Boston together with different Cabo Verdeans dwelling within the space.
Djeison Lumi’s most up-to-date hit, “MO NA BRASIL,” transports his followers to a different location the place the Cabo Verdean connection is unbreakable: the streets of Brazil. Right here, Lumi displays on the colourful cultural similarities between life in Praia, Cabo Verde, and the favelas of Brazil. There are a number of comparisons drawn between the cultures, with totally different scenes of the “churrasco” Brazilian barbecue and the actors repping Brazilian soccer jerseys and commenting on the game’s significance within the music.
The Lusophone connection is extremely potent, internationally transpiring borders by popular culture, music, meals, sport, and extra. Lumi’s music helps the bond develop much more highly effective, with “MO NA BRASIL” being a really perfect instance.
The music does, nevertheless, point out and considerably glorify the legal methods of favela gangs in Brazil, which has not too long ago led to rising safety issues in main cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Lumi’s squad within the music video brandish their weapons and flaunt their gang-inspired existence. That is one facet that underscores a deeper pattern prevalent in Lusophone rap tradition: the glorification of the favela and of the crime gangs deeply entrenched in favela tradition. Many Brazilian rappers have romanticized the poverty and crime that run rampant in favelas, that are systemic points sown into the socio-political cloth of Brazil. Favelas are a product of many issues: political mismanagement, marginalization, low social welfare, violence, and corruption.
Rappers within the Lusophone world can proceed to point out the nice sides of the favela life-style, nevertheless, I personally assume it could possibly be much more highly effective to make use of their platforms to convey gentle to the systemic points and drivers of poverty and crime in Brazil. This may, in flip, encourage social progress amongst favela communities as an alternative of romanticizing a few of the points which can be most pervasive in Brazilian society.
General, Lumi’s music is energetic and explores the deeper connections within the Lusophone world. From Cabo Verde to Boston to Brazil, Lumi continues to make a mark for future generations of Luso rap.
