31 Mar 2012

DRC / EX-CHILD SOLDIERS HIP HOP

Five ex-child soldiers who met at a UNICEF supported transit centre in Bukavu formed a hip hop group call 'The Flavour Boyz”. The boys along with others here were captured or freed by government forces from a myriad of different militia wreaking havoc across the region. UNICEF

Posted at: March 31, 2012 12:02 am

Duration: 03:24

Available in: SD, HD

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Full script

STORY: DRC / EX-CHILD SOLDIERS HIP HOP
TRT: 3.24
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / SWAHILI / NATS
 
DATELINE: 20, 21 FEBRUARY 2012, BUKAVU, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
 
SHOTLIST:

1. Med shot, boy rapping and drumming
2. Close shot, drumming
3. Med shot, hip hop crew
4. Tilt up, drum to crew
5. Close up, singer wiping away tears
6. Med shot, singer and dancer
7. Close shot, dancing feet
8. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) "David" (name changed), 16 years old:
"I was at home studying, I was in the sixth form when the militia came. They grabbed me and took me to their camp. They made me become a fighter like them. It was difficult in the bush, there was no food and we slept badly and our commander told us to attack villages and to rape women. While I was there I fought in three wars. There were lots of people killed but somehow I survived. I wanted to sing while I was there, but I wasn't allowed, it's only since coming here that I have the freedom to sing to and to write songs."
9. Tilt down, rapper to drum
10. Close up, feet
11. Close up, game board
12. Med shot, game board
13. Close up, boy playing game
14. Med shot, boy ironing
15. Close up, iron and shirt
16. Close up, teacher talking to class
17. Close up, boy putting up hand
18. Med shot, boy writing on board
19. Med shot, writing on board
20. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) "David" (name changed), 16 years old:
"I sing songs about peace and songs that where I tell the youth that they have to respect their parents, and I sing songs about the fighting and what we experienced. I sing that we don't want to have fighting in our country anymore."
21. Close up, hands drumming
22. Med shot, boys drumming
23. Med shot, boy rapping
24. Med shot, hands clapping
25. Wide shot, boys clapping

STORYLINE:
 
They've traded rifles for rap and bullets for beats. At a UNICEF supported transit center in Bukavu, five former child soldiers have formed a hip hop crew.

The 'Flavour boyz' use rap to speak out about their experiences in this war torn corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Like most of the boys at the transit center, the 16-year-old leader of the crew was abducted by militia who attacked his village. Just 14 at the time, he was forced to become one of them.

SOUNDBITE (Swahili) "David" (name changed), 16 years old:

"I was at home studying, I was in the sixth form when the militia came. They grabbed me and took me to their camp. They made me become a fighter like them. It was difficult in the bush, there was no food and we slept badly and our commander told us to attack villages and to rape women. While I was there I fought in three wars. There were lots of people killed but somehow I survived. I wanted to sing while I was there, but I wasn't allowed, it's only since coming here that I have the freedom to sing to and to write songs."

The songs are about his experiences of war and about his hopes for peace.

He was captured by government troops, brought to Bukavu and after weeks in prison, finally brought to the center. Here, along with other boys, freed from other militia, he has found sanctuary. They live a semblance of a normal life, playing games, washing and ironing clothes and even going to school. Each one will spend a minimum of three months here before being reintegrated into their community.

SOUNDBITE (Swahili) "David" (name changed), 16 years old:
"I sing songs about peace and songs that where I tell the youth that they have to respect their parents, and I sing songs about the fighting and what we experienced. I sing that we don't want to have fighting in our country any more."

And looking to the future, many here want to forget the past, to forget the violence, bloodshed and rape. But the 'Flavour boyz' sing about their experience, they want the world to know what's happening here, and they want a better future.