Ghana's Yoyo Tinz Festival gets official date

Yoyo Tinz is a Ghanaian organisation that aims at developing, archiving and documenting African hip hop culture. Famous for its ‘yoyo tinz shrine’, which has been consistent over the years with being among the biggest and liveliest stations at the annual Chale Wote festival, the organisation is here this time with its own festival.

Established in 2013 by the photographer Selorm Jay and based in Accra, Yoyo Tinz documents the broader culture of African hip hop through in-depth articles, interviews, documentaries, panel discussions and concerts. Since it came on the scene, Yoyo Tinz has helped outfits like Alliance Française Accra, organise successful hip hop festivals. The group has also appeared at the popular Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra.

The planned festival will commemorate the fifth anniversary of the platform. Over two days, the festival will showcase hip hop via its five elements: rap, graffiti, beatboxing, breakdancing and deejaying. There will also be showcases of photography, fashion and cinema.

According to the organisers, the festival presents “an opportunity to replicate these past events with a twist". This time the organisation aims at bigger things: bigger venue, bigger audience, more international artists, more activities and so on. 

The festival’s mascot, a goat, has also been unveiled. “Why a goat as a hip hop festival mascot?” ask the organisers, before giving a response: “Because among other enviable attributes, goats symbolise determination, stubbornness, and vitality, elements that are fully embedded in the hip hop culture.

“Moreover, many rappers have claimed to be the G.O.A.T, the Greatest Of All Times! And lastly, because the goat has in recent years become a popular symbol in Ghanaian politics – the former president engendering the ‘dead goat syndrome,’ and the goat becoming a widely known, seemingly official bribe item.”

For updates follow the hashtag #yoyotinzfestival2018 on social media