At the age of 14, Zoe Kabuye, aka MC Loy, uses her lyrical skills to talk about access to education, sexual abuse, and the rights of children in her native Uganda. She’s even rapped for the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni.
Last year Kabuye made a grand debut on NewzBeat, a popular Ugandan television show which features rappers delivers the news while doing what they do best.
According to Take Part,
“They say music is the food of the soul,” says Kabuye, a ninth grader at a Kampala high school. “Rap can attract somebody. You become interested in listening to the words.”
Here are some sample lyrics from her Kabuye’s song “Skool Revolution” which calls out sex abuse, corruption and physical abuse in some of Uganda’s schools,
Defilement…I can’t imagine how heavy the case!
Keeping law and order ain’t a slogan for police to make.
You take ’em in and after a few days they are lousing out!
Allow me to extend this grudge upon the school staff.
You know you got foxes but you hide them in sheep!
What you do you pay bribes to let these teachers out.
The young MC also receives mentoring from fellow rapper Sharon Bwogi, aka Lady Slyke, who frequently addresses women’s rights and human rights issues in Uganda in her music. Lady Slyke, one of Uganda’s most popular rappers, appears with MC Loy on NewzBeat. Check out the two lyricists below.