Diana Avella: Naci Mujer (I was Born a Woman)

Columbian Hip Hop artist brings a message that society can change when all of us work together

Diana Avella is a top Colombian hip hop singer. Her career began seven years ago, and during these years, her main concern was focused on ideological, cultural, and academic contributions to this musical movement from society. 

Her lyrics reflect her activism in the hip hop scene.  She has participated in some international musical and academic events, including the  First International Festival of Hip Hop in The  City of Caracas (Venezuela, 2005); launched a Cd compilation called ATTENTION, in Amsterdam (Holland, 2006); and national events like: Hip Hop Al Parque (Año 2004, 2007), Primer Festival De Hip Hop En La Universidad Pedagógica De Tunja (2004), Encuentro De Mujeres (Medellín, Año 2004), Hip 4 (Medellin- Colombia 2007) Universidad Pública De Ibagué (Año 2006), Conmemoración Del Día Internacional Del Hip Hop Contra El Imperialismo Y La Guerra En La Universidad Del Valle (Año 2006), Festival Trewa (Barranquilla 2007).

She also works on a women’s theatre group “Enlace Melissa” in another project: “Por Razones de Estado”, and in her solo career as a female hip hop singer.

INTERVIEW

Have you ever experienced violence in your life just for being a woman? Can you tell us about it?

Unfortunately, in Latin America, and especially in Colombia, every day there is violence against women.

I have to face (or find myself in) advertisements that sell women and show us as stereotypes.

Also, there is my own personal situation. I am a single mother and I have to assume both parental roles when educating my child. I have to be mother and father at the same time. I have to be his entire family.

When I have tried to work with and contact the authorities here in my city –  Bogotá, I have been treated very poorly by the police. The support that they gave me was zero!

Nowadays, I have no legal support or involvement.

I support my son in every way, including economically.

I believe that this, economic control, is another kind of everyday, violent way to assault a woman. To abandon her and leave her to fight for government support alone.

Art is fundamental in your life. Do you believe that through art we can make a better, more accepting society? How can the artists help tackle violence against women?

For me, art is a real way of fighting.

I am an independent artist. My work is not funded by anyone or any organization.

I put my resources and time in making videos, music, [and] songs that allow that more women take away the fear within their minds, in their everyday lives and believe that they are strong women.

More women can be reached through the power of art and music.

With your talent, you put Colombia’s name to the world. As a Colombian woman what are the difficulties faced by women in your particular country?

Unfortunately, as a Colombian woman, I have faced difficult experiences.

In particular, with men who make it very clear they have prejudices against Colombian women.

I always try to be around men and women who  share my values and who support my fight for women’s rights. People who show respect for women’s bodies and their decisions.

This is especially important to me when I’m traveling to work in other countries.

Your song, “Nací Mujer” (I was born a woman), and its video, are very powerful. It brings a message that  society can change when all of us, men , women, young and old, work together.  How it was it created and how did you feel writing such a song?

This song is a gift, a gift from God. It was the last song I wrote on the CD. “Nací Mujer” reflects my feelings about the world, but, also my hope for a better world.

I wrote this song in one hour, a record time for me. I recorded it at the same time.

It was magic because I’ve never ever taken this short a time to create a song. It brought all my inner strength and desire to my voice and it happened from the very first word I sang.

Would you like to leave a message to women that have being and are being victims of violence against women? And for the men who accept as natural the fact to assault a woman?

I just want to tell everyone that no man, woman, child can develop and grow without integrity and DIGNITY.

Every human being deserves to live without any kind of violence, to be able to  defend and express their individual way of thinking. To show that respect, shows you are respecting each other’s world.

The most important fight, above all others, is the internal fight.

Its within our thoughts – and we hold the power to eliminate of all forms of violence and prevent it from taking away dignity from our lives.

I believe that is necessary to strengthen the everyday dialogue of everyday people. To empower, to support the weakest ,since the state and the institutions are not responsible enough to do it.

Would you like to say anything else?

We will remain here working to strengthening the HIP HOP scene and the world with ideas about equality of men and women in the world.

To you all, an immense and affectionate greeting from Colombia!

Listen to Diana Avella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un4Rp4DgnKg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQHJgKElOqs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnWdyzh_mv8

More on Diana Avella

Website: http://www.myspace.com/dianaavellarap

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Avella/370692418821

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