New Documentary Film Profiles Inspirational Social Movement in Senegal and Rising Hip Hop Artist Nara P.

A new film by Doha Debates and film cooperative Muzungu Producciones profiles members of Sénégal’s influential Y’en a Marre hip-hop collective, which translates to “Fed Up” or “Enough is Enough” in English.  The group plays a positive role inspiring change in the top West African nation, which in 2026 will be the first country on the African continent to host an Olympic sports event. The film is available for free streaming on DohaDebates.com. 

The Y’en a Marre social movement began in 2011 in the suburbs of Dakar and uses music and communications to challenge authority, fight social injustice, mobilize Sénégal’s youth vote and hold the government accountable for issues like migration, corruption, and unemployment.

Among other accomplishments, Y’en a Marre played a role in the 2019 defeat of president Abdoulaye Wade and encouraged thousands of young Senegalese to register to vote and participate in elections.

The new short documentary film by Doha Debates, entitled “Music to Mobilize: Y’en a Marre”profiles young Senegalese hip hop artist Nara P., a representative of Y’en a Marre who began rapping in 2012 and has toured the United States. Born in Kaolack, Sénégal, Nara P. (real name: Birame Loum) writes hip hop songs that encourage young people to follow political news, vote, and hold elected officials accountable for social issues that have led to rising emigration from Sénégal. Over 60% of Sénégal’s population is under the age of 25.

“I can only be a rapper who denounces, brings awareness and educates,” Nara P. tells filmmakers. “That is what led me to find a way to demonstrate my commitment to the population.”

The film also features other leaders in the Y’en a Marre movement, including co-founder Papa Alioune Gadiaga and Denise Sofiatou.

Co-founder Papa Alioune Gadiaga tells filmmakers, “This movement survives to fight against everything that still isn’t working” in Sénégal and “the next step to fight is to become part of the decision-making [and] to change things from inside.”

Nara P. added,“We should now have the knowledge to understand how the state works, how decisions are made.”

Denise Sofiatou discusses Nara P.’s role in Sénégal’s music culture, saying, “Nara knows what to do already [about] topics he sings about. He should not imitate others or do the bling-bling. He has to continue to sing about the problems of society and to represent his hometown.”

“Nara knows how to make music people like, but he also has the gift of deep lyrics to move them,” adds Papa Alioune Gadiaga. “Now it is time for young people to step in.”

Part of Y’en a Marre’s contributions include the creation of La Télévision Citoyenne (LTC), an independent TV channel that broadcasts over the Internet and aims to offer a counterbalance to privately held or state-run media in Sénégal.   Nara P. describes the role of LTC, saying, “We don’t trust the traditional media anymore, we really want to listen to the voices of the citizens.”

Other local issues explored in the film include the problem of migration, as thousands of Senegalese traditional fishermen emigrate to Spain or to the West due to dangerous conditions and overfishing.  

Y’en a Marre member Samara Fall states, “[Fishermen] no longer have a job because of the big ships, whether they are Chinese or other foreigners who practice fish here. How many young people have lost their lives at sea?” She added, “This is why many people prefer to emigrate, even though they can die during the journey.”

“Being a fisherman is just one of Sénégal’s jobs, but emigration is not just about them. It affects mechanics, farmers, ranchers, and taxi drivers.”

Today, Y’en a Marre continues to serve as a political watchdog and call for a more just society.

The “Y’en a Marre” film is part of a new short documentary series collaboration between Doha Debates and Muzungu Producciones that commissions emerging filmmakers to shoot local artists who use music to give voice to people worldwide.  The film by rising local filmmakers Abdou Khafor Kandji and El Hadji Amadou Baba Diallo, with Katrine Dermody and Japhet Weeks from Doha Debates serving as executive producers alongside creative producer Alfonso Solis.

Other films in this series profile Brazilian Indigenous rap act Brô MC’s, who sing in a mix of languages (including their endangered language, Guarani); Moroccan rap artist Amine, a displaced refugee in Greece, and Ettijah, Palestine’s first all-girl hip hop act.

Muzungu Producciones is a global cooperative composed of filmmakers, journalists, photographers, and producers whose goal is to bring together different perspectives through a commitment to storytelling. They are headed by Athens-based filmmaker Elpida Nikou and Rodrigo Hernandez.

Doha Debates is a media organization based in Washington, D.C. that uses live debates, town halls, short films, podcasts, and other media to bridge differences, build consensus, and identify solutions to urgent global issues.

All films in the series will be available on DohaDebates.com and via Doha Debates’ YouTube channel, Twitter and Facebook.