Dogo Browny, a young rap sensation from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ignites a flame of patriotism with his latest track, encouraging them to rise above the shadows of past and present hardships and recognise the beauty of their homeland.
At just 13 years old, Browny is earning accolades for the sincerity of his message, drawing from his own experiences as a child in one of the most tumultuous regions of the globe. His music bravely addresses grim realities such as child soldiers, gender-based violence, displacement, massacres, the plundering of natural resources and political killings. To repeat, he’s 13 years old.
The DRC, home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon, boasts an estimated $24 trillion in mineral wealth and a youthful population with a median age of just 15.8 years. This vast central African nation, nearly two-thirds the size of Western Europe, possesses all the elements necessary for a thriving, stable and influential presence on the world stage.
However, three decades of a foreign-backed resource conflict have led to a tragic mass-loss of Congolese lives – 6 million by 2010, with countless more killed since. Over 7-million people are displaced, and more than 25 million face food insecurity, as reported by the UN. As the global race for cobalt, coltan, tantalum and other rare minerals intensifies, the DRC has become a focal point for ‘conflict minerals’ that fuel foreign technology industries.
Yet Browny holds firm in his belief that the Congolese people’s deep love for their homeland will empower them to overcome these dire challenges. The question remains: will the adults of the nation – especially its leaders – listen to the heartfelt wisdom of this young voice?
Video credit:
@invisible_kids_academy243, @dogo_browny243
Sources
https://database.earth/population/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/median-age