Several musicians present at the funeral ceremony for the Mozambican rapper, Azagaia, spoke of the remarkable achievements of the artist whose compositions impacted society.
MC K – Rapper: My reaction was one of shock because Azagaia had to be here in Angola this March and it wasn’t possible. We had a set of projects in our portfolio to do in a trinity between Mc K, Azagaia and Valete and unfortunately Azagaia left without the possibility of saying goodbye, without the possibility of concluding what our projects were, so it is a shock situation, we continue shocked. Right now, I extend my solidarity to the brotherly people of Mozambique, it is a general loss, it is a loss for Angola, it is a loss for the continent, it is a loss for the Portuguese language. Azagaia was one of the greatest representatives of Portuguese. I met Azagaia in 2007 at a festival celebrating the Portuguese language in the city of Porto, Portugal. At the time, I had the Babalaze album and we participated in the Porto festival.
WAZIMBO – Musician: Snot just tears, but with the hope of continuing Azagaia’s fight; following all, it was the fight for all of us, so for those of us who remain, our duty and obligation is to continue this fight.
KALIZA – Musician – I believe that, as he himself said in interviews, it was understood that he was a person with a very high conscience, he knew that death was something that all of us might taste and, therefore, he lived intensely and let his works remain.
DIKEY – Musician: Men like Azagaia, who make a difference, who push us forward, who often open our minds… are rare.
BEAT KEEPA – DJ: The message is there, registered; it is up to us young people to take these messages to unite the people and find consensus and, as a result, fight for a better Mozambique.
ELÍSIO DE SOUSA – Jurist: Mozambique loses a figure that had a great social impact, a figure that defined another perspective of youth, very loved, courageous, intellectually prepared.
BOAVENTURA DE SOUSA SANTOS – Academic: The people are not in power, nor anywhere, that’s what I know, but we must not give up this fight and this fight is always. It is a struggle of the oppressed poor, the exploited poor everywhere, and it must be continued. And it is an indicator that is really capable of bringing this whole message in a dynamic way and that today shows this funeral in a way that mobilized. I feel quite happy within this sorrow, happy to be able to see the images that show very well the gratitude of young Mozambicans who were touched by Azagaia’s message. I believe that politicians should look at this, see that there is also a manifestation of protest once morest injustices and problems that have not been resolved.
ALLAN – Rapper: It is the last tribute to the Mozambican hip-hop leader.