DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

In December 2004 Brett Mazurek traveled to Uganda in Central Africa to document the violent and traumatic displacement of the children of Northern Uganda resulting from the decades-long civil war in the country. Being a DJ and Hip Hop enthusiast, while there Brett quickly discovered a vibrant and politically-aware local Hip Hop scene just starting to explode onto the continent. As political forces from within Uganda continued to block his attempts to travel north, Brett realized there was another story to be told.Solidifying his relationships with local artists and musicians, he shot a music video which was later nominated for Best Hip Hop video at the 2005 African Music Awards, before heading back to America. A year of corresponding and planning with artists in Uganda followed, during which time Brett began to garner support from Hollywood, and in December 2005 he returned to Uganda to spend two months living with a group of talented, determined, and inspiring Hip Hop artists struggling for a better life.Brett returned to America with 7 music videos, 95 hours of raw footage, and a mission to show it all to the world.Diamonds in the Rough offers a raw glimpse of urban Africa through the eyes of four emerging Hip Hop artists in the Ugandan capitol of Kampala. They teach us how to struggle with a smile, how to make the best of life against insufferable odds, how to create our own opportunities and flourish through positivity, presenting a refreshing contrast to the commercialized bling bling gangster rap here in America.These artists are the voice of the new generation, the heroes of their community and a group of active, enthusiastic and energetic young people more concerned with global change then how much change they have in their pockets.