We’ve had a lot of programmed events the last couple of days here in Rio. I just want to re-cap you on everything that’s been happening.

The main reason that we were able to be here in Brazil is because of the Hutuz Festival. This event is the biggest festival dedicated to hip hop in Latin America and the Counselor General’s office has been involved for the past five years. An organization called CUFA (Unique Central of the Favelas) is the force behind the festival and let me tell you I was very excited to see all of the many great things that they have offered.

CUFA is a self-sufficient organization that has made so many tremendous strides in the community that the Department of Labor and Tourism partners with them to provide programs and training in Break Dancing, Grafitti, Basketball (street ball), DJ’ing, Audiovisual and Theater.

The have an area under a bridge in one of the communities and it’s a wonderful place for all of the local neighborhoods to come and learn about the different elements of hip hop. For so long, the older people have tried to make us believe that nothing good would ever come out of the hip hop generation, but here we have an organization that is using the culture of today’s generation to provide a healthy, positive alternative to the negativity that kids face on a daily basis. I definitely applaud the efforts of this organization and I am truly honored to be apart of it.

This is the reason that everything is worthwhile:

We did a workshop for the people in the program and here’s a crowd shot from the stage:

CUFA helped some local artist produce their own CD and what better way to give back the community than by giving the music away to the children:

Here is CUFA in action with a break dancing class:

The skateboarding instructor invited Jahah to show off his skateboarding skills:

AFAR is still making friends everywhere we go.  This is AFAR with a local band that performed for us after the workshop:

Me and Claudia, one of CUFA’s organizers (she was handling business when the pic was taken!):

They were doing so many great things that Che almost left AFAR to stay with them:

Jahah participated in a roundtable discussion on discrimination in hip hop.   Pictured here is Jahah and me with Fred Hampton Jr.:

AFAR performed at the Hutuz award show as well.

Look at all of the people trying to get into the venue:

Here I am in soundcheck:

Backstage view of our performance:

and lastly, the wonderful people from the United States Counselor General’s office that helped to make our visit possible (Not pictured is our other translator, Anna):

• Previous Entry: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Next Entry: End of the Road!… The Rhythm Road…