1) Alaska Native Society Seen through Hip Hop

Hiroya NOGUCHI（Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples）

While part of the US and center of hip hop culture, Alaska is very much on the periphery of the country, both geographically and culturally. Native hip hop is even further marginalized at the periphery of Alaska’s music scene. From the beginning of colonialization by Russia in the 18th century to its return to America in the latter half of the 19th century, Alaska’s Native population has had a different colonial experience to that of Native Americans on the mainland. This presentation examines the rap music which has developed at the periphery of hip hop culture’s home country, while taking the unique indigenous historical, political and social context into account. It also considers the question of what Alaska Natives are rapping about and why, focusing on the activities of Samuel Johns, a rapper of Gwich'in and Atona origins who continues to support homeless Native people

2) Special Lecture: Hip Hop from Siberian Sakha

Sun Paul NUMABARA（Shakuhachi Player）

3) Cuban Hip Hop: From Underground to Transborder Rap

Hironao ANBO（Ritsumei University）

This presentation reports on how hip hop infiltrated the socialist country of Cuba and how it has since developed and changed. The early underground rap scene spawned a movement of African-Cuban rappers who spoke out on behalf of the community against the social problems created by the economic crisis that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, with the introduction of state-run institutions, the exile of first-generation rappers and lack of interest from the music industry, the movement declined and developed in a new direction. While taking into consideration the development of the internet and devices, as well as the differences between the generations in their attitudes towards the revolution, we introduce rappers who exemplify how rap’s themes and music are gradually becoming a transborder medium that transcends genres and national borders.