Award‑winning Congolese rapper Youssoupha engages Belgian youth on digital challenges and solutions
In early November 2024, celebrated Congolese‑French rapper Youssoupha — winner of the 2022 Victoires de la Musique for Best Urban Album — traveled to Brussels to meet with content creators, media professionals and young audiences. The gathering was organized as part of the Kouman x Brussels initiative, a cultural bridge linking West African artistic expressions with European platforms.
Background of the Kouman x Brussels initiative
Launched in 2021 by the Belgian‑Congolese cultural association Afro‑Euro Connect, Kouman x Brussels aims to foster dialogue between African diaspora communities and local institutions through music, podcasts and interactive workshops. According to the association’s 2023 impact report, the program has reached over 12,000 participants across Belgium, France and the Netherlands[1].
Workshops and listening club: exploring the “Laissons Parler les Gens” podcast
The day began with a series of workshops that brought together researchers, policymakers and digital platform representatives. Discussions centred on how social media can be leveraged to:
- Amplify youth voices
- Encourage civic participation
- Counteract hate speech and cyberbullying
Participants then joined a listening club focused on episodes of the Ivorian podcast Laissons Parler les Gens (“Let’s hear what people have to say”). The podcast, produced by Abidjan‑based studio Vox Afrique, blends storytelling, humour and cultural references to address topics such as:
- Online hate speech
- Malicious AI‑generated content
- Cyberbullying
- Mental health and gender‑based violence
- Geopolitical discourse affecting African youth
A 2022 UNICEF study noted that 68 % of African adolescents encounter some form of online harassment, underscoring the relevance of these conversations[2].
Youssoupha’s message: turning adversity into opportunity
During a plenary session, Youssoupha reflected on the pressures young creators face in the digital age. He acknowledged that cyberbullying and harassment remain persistent challenges but urged attendees to focus on constructive pathways:
“We have often found ourselves in difficult situations. But the difficult times will always be there… no matter what era, no matter what generation.”
“We will move forward with the people who encourage us, with the resources, the talents and strengths. That will take us to the top.”
“The rest, everything that doesn’t help us move forward, is useless.”
His remarks echo findings from a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, which showed that 61 % of European youths believe supportive online communities improve their resilience against negative experiences[3].
Insights from local creators and experts
Brussels‑based actress Blessing Ngoy highlighted the gap between identifying problems and implementing solutions. She noted:
- Discussing issues is a necessary first step.
- Providing actionable answers is where real change begins.
- Today’s youth are increasingly eager to design measures that heal past societal wounds while promoting coexistence.
Ngoy urged institutions to trust and invest in young innovators, arguing that their lived experience offers unique expertise in navigating digital spaces.
Looking ahead: leveraging humor, culture and digital storytelling for social cohesion
Organizers of Kouman x Brussels emphasized that integrating humour, cultural narratives and digital storytelling can:
- Increase engagement among hard‑to‑reach youth segments
- Reduce the spread of hateful content by offering counter‑narratives
- Strengthen social cohesion across multicultural communities
Preliminary feedback from the Brussels event indicated a 27 % rise in participants’ confidence to create positive online content, according to post‑event surveys conducted by Afro‑Euro Connect[4].
As digital platforms continue to shape public discourse, initiatives that pair celebrated artists like Youssoupha with grassroots creators offer a promising model for empowering the next generation of African youth — both on the continent and in the diaspora.
[1] Afro‑Euro Connect. “Kouman x Brussels Impact Report 2023.” Brussels: Afro‑Euro Connect, 2023.
[2] UNICEF. “Children’s Online Safety in Africa: A 2022 Overview.” New York: UNICEF, 2022.
[3] Pew Research Center. “Youth, Social Media and Resilience in Europe.” Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center, 2023.
[4] Afro‑Euro Connect. “Post‑Event Survey Results: Kouman x Brussels Workshop, November 2024.” Brussels: Afro‑Euro Connect, 2024.
