Oct. 2 lecture to cover hip-hop and mass demonstrations in Senegal

Thiat and Denise Sow will speak at Western Washington University Oct. 2 regarding their participation in the mobilization of Senegalese youth in the 2012 Senegalese presidential elections. The free event is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.

Through popular forms of hip-hop and mass demonstrations, the speakers ultimately contributed to relatively peaceful and democratic political transition in Senegal. Their presentation will explain how democracy and popular participation in elections exist in Senegal and how these activists are working to spread that message to neighboring West African countries. For background on the talk, check out the MTV documentary "Rebel Music-Senegal: Ready for Change."

The event is sponsored by the President's Diversity Fund, the Center for International Studies and the departments of History, Liberal Studies and Political Science.