freshboldandsodef:

In 1997, MYRIEM (Marième Diallo), NJAAYAA (Ndiaya Gueye) and OUMY (Oumy Ndiaye) created ALIF (Liberate Attack of the Feminist Infantry), the first female hip hop trio emerging on Hip Hop Galsen scene. ALIF initially started like most of Senegalese hip hop artists as dancers first. Supported by pioneer hip hop artists such as Awadi (PBS), Xuman (Pee Froiss) or the group Daara J, the female crew soon develops an original sound and repertoire. In 1999, ALIF releases its debut album, “Viktim”, a production of the Senegalese hip hop label Optimist Produktion. With this cassette, ALIF marks the official entry of women in Hip Hop Galsen. After several featuring (Awadi, Chaka Bab’s) and participations on different compilations (Asbef, Dakar Raps), ALIF releases its second album in 2004, this time produced by a German label, Out/Here Records. In “Dakamerap”, ALIF reaffirms its constant engagement in favour of the women cause and their rights. With respect, they tackle issues such as polygamy and forced marriage, rapping in French, English and Wolof. This second album meets a hug success both locally and internationally and allows the female trio to tour throughout Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy). In 2006, the group reconfigures itself. Indeed, Njaayaa leaves the trio in order to work on solo projects and is replaced by a young singer, Mamy (Ndèye Oumi Mbaye). With such a newly recomposed ALIF, the female group releases, in 2008, a third album. “Rareti” distinguishes itself from the previous productions for its combination of rap and mbalax (popular Senegalese musical genre rendered famous by Youssou N’dour). “Rareti” happens to be the last release of the trio who announced its separation beginning of 2010. Biography courtesy of Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALIF_%28Liberate_Attack_of_the_Feminist_Infantry%29