By: Terria Smith
Los Angeles, CA - On September 14, 2008 artists, musicians and cultural carriers gathered at the Ford Amphitheater for a day of songs about struggle and solidarity. The second annual International Indigenous Hip Hop Gathering brought in crowd just the size to weave their talents and ideas into a new clan.
“What nations do we have here?” Hip hop artist and concert host, Chiuatl-Ce called out to the crowd.
“Onieda! Dine! Mexica! Chicano!” the crowd said back.
She along with speakers who followed encouraged everyone at the gathering to meet one another in order to bridge nations. With more than eight hours to share music and look around at information booths by Los Angeles Indigenous People’s Alliance and The Peace and Dignity Journeys along with vendors from Apache Skateboards and South Wind Design there was plenty of opportunity for people to meet.
Tribal traditions were honored with songs and dances from the Southern California Inter Tribal Bird Singers and Danza Mexicayolt.
Sounds from hip hop groups including Antithesis, El Vuh, Culture Shock Camp and The Visionaries carried the gathering from the afternoon into night.
With all the talent lined up, an inevitable disappointment came with the fact that each performance set was 20 minutes or less. This was clear after the audience groaned in dissatisfaction when the band Audiopharmacy announced that they were asked to end their set. This happened just after the band brought everyone out of their chairs and dancing on their feet. Also, in order to see all the clothing and jewelry that vendors had to offer outside of the amphitheater there was no choice but to miss some of the show. Neither of these factors, however, was enough to take from the sincerity and warm atmosphere of the gathering. Fluid through the event was the clear sense that across cultures indigenous people had survived. Overall, it is not struggles and cultural differences that should divide but unite.
To be a part of that message is enough to carry hope of returning to next year’s show.
