In celebration of Black History Month and of a multicultural and inclusive Italianness, the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS) is hosting a Book Presentation Q&A with Afro-Italian hip-hop artist and activist Amir Issaa about his books Vivo per questo/I Live For This (2017, Chiarelettere Edizioni) and Educazione Rap/Rap Education (2021, ADD Editore).
The presentation will take place in English—all are welcome to attend! Light refreshments will be served.
About Amir Issaa:
Amir Issaa (rapper, record producer, and activist) was born in Rome in 1978 from an Italian mother and an Egyptian father. His passion for hip-hop culture dates back to the 1990s, and becomes a medium to ease the emotional distress caused by his difficult childhood, and to help other kids improve their own situation. Together with his activity as a rapper, Amir collaborates with several no-profit associations throughout his career. Amir has recorded 7 albums, and several EPs. In 2011, together with Italian band The Caesars, Amir worked on the soundtrack for Francesco Bruni’s movie Scialla!. Amir is the founder and artistic director of Potere alle parole (Power To The Words – beats and rhymes against discriminations), a writing laboratory with the purpose of unpacking stereotypes and prejudices that lead to discrimination, created in collaboration with UNAR (National Anti-Racism Union) and the no-profit association Il Razzismo è una brutta storia (Racism is a nasty business). The workshop took place in public schools, and it involved rap artists such as Ghemon, Kiave, Madbuddy, and Mistaman. In June 2017, Amir published his memoir, Vivo per questo/I Live For This (Chiarelettere Edizioni), and in 2021, his second book Educazione Rap/Rap Education (ADD Editore).
Register for the Book Presentation Q&A by February 2:
If you have questions, contact Dr. Chiara Falangola (chiara.falangola@ubc.ca).
Sponsored by Green College and the Italian Institute of Culture in Toronto, in collaboration also with the Italian Programs at University of Toronto and Brock University.
