The Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies hosted Senegalese Hip Hop pioneer and social justice activist, Gunman Xuman on May 3, 2023. ELTS Professors Lia Brozgal, Laurence Denie-Higney, and Kim Jansma organized and hosted Xuman while staying at UCLA. Samuel Lamontagne, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA, led an enriching conversation with Xuman where they discussed the history of hip-hop in Senegal, the political impact of music, and Xuman’s roots and upbringing. Xuman joined students, faculty, and guests for a reception afterwards on the beautiful terrace in Royce Hall.
We’d like to thank the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, UCLA’s Hip Hop Initiative, Phyllis Taoua (Professor, Department of French and Italian, University of Arizona), and Pape Samb for their support of this event.
