Zeyo
Zeyo is a songwriter, rapper, and filmmaker. With his work he documents the human rights violations that he sees in his country - by writing, singing or making a video.
My name is Mustafa Elsiddig, known as “Zeyo”. I am a Sudanese citizen born in Wad Madani. I grew up in the United Arab Emirates, in Al-ain. I fell in love with rap music and started following it when I was 16 years old.
At first I wrote poetry, but I couldn't quite grasp my flow. Although I was in love with this art, it was a challenge for me as I am a stutterer. Until one day I played a beat I found on YouTube and tried to rap on it. That's when I discovered that I can perform and I haven't stopped since. For me, music is a comfort zone. I had a difficult childhood because I stutter, but I got over it by doing this art. I learned additional skills like beat making, video editing, and photography.
I try the best I can to turn any negativity I face into a solitude that benefits my growth. My goal is to express what I and others are going through because of the repression of freedom by the extreme right, as well as to establish a platform in my country to help revolutionary artists who are suffering from the harsh living conditions they are going through because of the government , not fortunate enough to practice their art.
In 2016 I held my first workshop teaching kids ages 8 to 13 the basics of rap music. That same year, a short documentary about my life won second place at the Sudan Independent Film Festival. He also took part in the Insburk Film Festival.
In 2019 I took part in the “Yalla Khartoum” music fusion workshop which created a connection between many young musicians with different genres. This workshop was in the name of peace in Sudan and was meant to connect all tribes of Sudan through music.
At the beginning of the revolution in Sudan that started in December 2018, we made a song for this event and the song became a famous chant on the streets.
- Zeyo, Berlin, 2021.
Links
YouTube: @FamilyBusinessVEVO
SoundCloud: @Zeyo man