RAP IN TONDO: German-French Project, May 25

Press Release
RAP IN TONDO: German-French Project, May 25 –June 1, 2010
Rap in Tondo is an artistic and social project developed by the Goethe-Institut Manila
and the Alliance Française de Manille. It seeks to establish cultural exchange and
cooperation between German, French and Filipino Rap and Hip-Hop artists. This music
genre is widely popular in the Philippines and has become a means of expression for
many young people in Tondo.
In this joint project the Alliance Française de Manille and the Goethe-Institut Manila
connect the Philippine Hip-Hop culture with the dynamic German-French Hip-Hop scenes,
supporting the artistic and social development of young Filipino Hip-Hop artists. The core
of this project is formed by Tondo Tribe, a Philippine Hip-Hop group, and the GermanFrench Rap group formed by MC Narco, DJ Access, The P.A.T, Fly (1 singer, 1 DJ, 2 HipHop instructors and 1 manager).
Assigned project coordinators are Filipino film director, Jim Libiran, who has made a
name with his film “Tribu”, and Mitchelle Moreno. Libiran received the film award “Prix du
Public” at the Paris Film festival in 2008 for this film. This docu-fiction was also screened
at the Berlinale in 2008. It is the first Filipino film depicting the local Hip-Hop scene and
supporting the music talents of Tondo. This music genre is now labeled “Tondo Rap” or
“Gangsta Rap“.
Further facets of this joint project are the artistic and social elements, as well as the
human aspects brought about by the interaction among the artists involved. This project
aims to involve the inhabitants of Tondo through various events (3- day workshop in
Tondo from May 25 to 27, warm-up concerts with the main concert in Tondo on May 29).
The highlight of the project will be a Hip-Hop competition on the basketball field of Tondo
involving Filipino, German and French artists, street children and Tondo dwellers. This
joint project underlines the role of the German and French Institutions as important
international cultural mediators. This unconventional event bears witness to the strong
French and German cultural cooperation while promoting cultural diversity.
The Elysée Treaty
This project is subsidized by the German-French Fond called Elysée Fund. The Elysée
Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Friendship, was signed by German Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer and French President Charles de Gaulle at Palais de l’Elysée on 22 January
1963 .
To celebrate the 40 years of the signature of the Treaty, in January 2003, new forms of
bilateral cooperation between the two countries have been created. This celebration has
also led to the creation of a common Franco-German fund named Elysée Fund, utilized by
both Ministries of Foreign Affairs to support joint cultural projects in third states carried
out by their cultural institutes.
This year the Goethe-Institut Philippines and the Alliance Francaise de Manille together
with the German Embassy in Manila and the Embassy of France to the Philippines decided
to embark on another joint project. From 26 – 30 May they will be organizing a GermanFrench-Filipino Project “RAP IN TONDO”. This project has a clear social aspect and is
based on cultural exchange, cooperation and support of young Hip Hop artists from these
three countries. Hip Hop is a music genre widely spread in the Philippines and has
become a form of expression of many young Filipinos.
For further details, please contact :
Sabrina Durand (Alliance Française de Manille) at 895-7585 loc. 108, mobile 0927 377 88
37 or email at sabrina@alliance.ph
Luisa Zaide (Goethe-Institut Manila) at 817 09 78, mobile 0908 981 00 25 or email at
program@manila.goethe.org.
Filipino artists : Tondo Tribe (Photos Credits : Romain Rivierre)
French and German artists : Les Coudes de Productions Team
MC Narco
DJ Access
The P.A.T
Fly
Rap in Tondo is organized by
8 Glasses Productions, Inc
With the support of
Official Sponsor
Sponsored by
Media Partners