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Nuno Varela, or ‘the Godfather’ in the Hip Hop Portuguese culture, was born in Chelas, Lisbon, 40 years ago, surrounded by poverty. He lived moments of great companionship, street play and hope for better days. Above all, he never lacked for dreams the size of the world. He painted graffiti on walls, wore baggy pants and wanted to be a rapper. He is now the father of two and an inspiration to many young people. He himself cannot define his profession. He takes artists to big stages, organizes events, gives lectures. “I'm a hustler” – he says. The best translation would be hurricane. In 2007, he launched the Hip Hop Sou Eu (HHSE) project.

Portrait of Nuno Varela
Credits: Ines Leote

Events

 –  h

LVR LandesMuseum

// Workshop I

Festival ticket required

Changing cities through community journalism: how Mensagem de Lisboa and the two Nunos did it with Narrativas Project

With Catarina Carvalho, Nuno Trigueiros and Nuno Varela

Mensagem from Lisbon has a vision for community journalism, that involves fostering civic participation and belonging in Lisboa urban communities. Through innovative formats, we inform, highlight individuals, and try to have a positive impact. Mensagem de Lisboa has worked with disenfranchised communities, turning media literacy concepts upside down and doing pop up newsrooms where we work with people from those places to tell their own stories. This is a process of empowerment but also a way to tackle news deserts, and promote empathy in a big city.