Yunus Rafiq Photo Courtesy Yunus Rafiq Yunus Rafiq is a Tanzanian social activist and co-founder of Aang Serian Peace Village in the city of Arusha. A 600-member youth organization representing 33 tribes of Tanzania and neighboring countries, Aang Serian serves indigenous youth through programs, which instill confidence and reaffirm identity and community in an increasingly urbanized East Africa. Among the organization's notable achievements that Yunus has been directly involved with is the establishment of a recording studio with Gsan Rutta of famed Maasai hip hop group X Plastaz [featured in Vibe Magazine, 2001]. Here, indigenous youth are given the opportunity to record for posterity the vanishing wisdom and knowledge of Tanzanian tribes expressed in not only their traditional music forms but the burgeoning local hip hop sound infused with tribal elements. Yunus himself is an adviser to the Masai Hip Hop collective, which maintains close tied to Aang Serian. Through his efforts with both groups, Yunus has demonstrated his commitment to increasing the international platform for indigenous hip hop artists in Tanzania and elsewhere, from the International Meeting on Research Initiative for Traditional Anti-Malarials [1999], Festival of Traditional Medicine [2000], and The Assembly of Indigenous People [2003]. Additionally, he co founded the online forum Native Hip hop, which brings Indigenous Hip hop artists activists, and supporters together to network and promote collaborative endeavors. As a regular guest on Tanzanian radio stations Sunshine FM, Radio 5 and Clouds FM, Yunus passionately promotes the usage of hip hop as a tool for positive change. From universities to the United Nations, he presents the work of Aang Serian to international audiences. Originally from Arusha, Yunus is of Segeju [Tanzanian Tribal] and Punjabi [South Asian] background, fluent in English, Ki-Swahili, Punjabi, and Maasai. He is temporarily residing in Brownstown, Indiana while pursuing a degree in Anthropology at the state university. Links: www.aangserian.org.uk www.xplastaz.com www.africanhiphop.com More Bios: Marinieves Alba | Ang 13 | Shaheen Ariefidien | Max Benitez | James Bernard | Toni Blackman | Triple Blak | Jeff Chang | Kevin Coval | Jonzi D | Mos Def | Martha Diaz | Jessica Green | James "Casper" Jankowiak | Talib Kweli | Bakari Kitwana | M1 | Boogie McClarin | Ivor Miller | Marcyliena Morgan | David Muhammad | Yunus Rafiq | Dr. Raquel Z. Rivera | Livio Sansone | Clyde Valentine | Cristina Verán | Zephyr