Essays of a Revolutionary MC: One Blood Project Uganda

I'm currently in Trondheim, Norway, for family business. What a charming city!

I started July by unwinding in Quito and Cuenca, Ecuador, where I managed to switch off for a good number of days. By the time I returned online, the world had experienced a heated debate between Trump and Biden, the UK had a new prime minister, and the French elections were dominating the news. It was a good reminder of the importance of taking a much-needed break. Remember to take a break and enjoy the summer sunshine.

For the last 10 summers in a row, I've made it a tradition to share some summer joy with juveniles at Grenen, a secured institution outside Djursland, Denmark. Thanks to Dion Rasmussen, who keeps inviting me year after year. Dion spends a week teaching a Hip Hop workshop and recording music with the youths in Grenen. On the final day, they get to listen to the recorded music for the first time, and I join Dion to give a presentation on how I used Hip Hop to give my seemingly hopeless life a fresh start. My message is always clear – it’s never too late to start afresh.

The first summer I visited Grenen was in 2015, just a few months after moving to Denmark. I had just been accepted to study the IB - International Baccalaureate at Langkær Gymnasium (now Aarhus Gymnasium). I couldn’t wait to share my fresh new beginnings with them. Over the years, it became a tradition to share my joys and successes to inspire them, as well as my failures to normalize those experiences. I told them about my university journey, my first job, meeting President Obama, and more.

What bonds us strongly is the shared understanding of our rough backgrounds, despite growing up in completely different societies. The big shock usually comes when I show them where I grew up, in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. It’s like a real-life "King of Katwe" story, well captured in a short social documentary entitled "One Blood Project." This project revealed and connected Czech and foreign street culture. My episode was shot in 2012 and still resonates today. I am sharing it publicly for the first time.

For 10 years in a row, spending time with the youths at Grenen reciprocates a great sense of joy and gratitude for the journey long walked. This year’s wasn’t any different.

Last but definitely not least, I’m happy to announce that I’ve received the much-needed support from Koda Kultur to finish my upcoming album, "Essays of a Revolutionary MC." Koda is the music association in Denmark, and their cultural funds help stimulate and support the creation of new music through work grants, production support, songwriting camps, educational programs, networking initiatives, and opportunities for international collaboration.

Next month, I will share my album track list with you.

Until then, thank you for your support and stay tuned for more. I’ll be sending only one email per month where I’ll share something about my music, life in Denmark, or about Uganda. If you enjoyed reading, don’t hesitate to follow up or even share with a friend.