DIGITAL DOMAIN DVD REVIEWS, Real Groove, October 2003

TE KUPU

Ngatahi: Know the Links (Kia Kaha)

Dean Hapeta, Te Kupu, has always been our heart, our reminder of what constitutes truth in action. In the late 1980's, Upper Hutt Posse released Against the Flow, a manifesto of indigenous struggle using hip hop as a signifier and base for the politics of culture expressed. The linking of the present struggle for rights and self determination with the historical ciphers of Te Kooti Rikirangi was illuminating. Hapeta continues to push what Mao described as 'politics in command' to grasp the meaning behind colonisation and the many tools of capitalist control, and to break that chain.

Ngatahi: Know the Links is a true manifesto of love (as shown a true revolutionary is guided by a 'grand love') - a double DVD of our struggle against acquiescence. The word 'Ngatahi' means 'together' and Hapeta has travelled the world to show the links between us, how we stand in a global community of similar struggle. It's no tourist trip, the realness is exposed by the many interviews and events taken on his journey. He goes all over: Detroit, New York, Washington, Paris, Kingston, Medellin, Australia, Cuba, Colombia and Aotearoa. I remember talking to Hapeta in the early 90s, he had already started on this project, this missive of revolutionary intent, and his desire to illuminate has never dimmed.

The doco moves from country to country accumulating data that involves and educates, the fight to free Philadelphia journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal, wrongly accused of shooting a cop and on death row (with footage of activist Angela Davis and actor Danny Glover), is perhaps the most well known fight for justice. But Ngatahi also goes into the heart of things, the streets where lesser known fight the same fight. Hapeta freestyling in the backyards of Detroit symbolises the common link that exists without any celebrity endorsements. The hardcore attitudes of the youth of Latin America are strident and the black population of Paris represent the urge for authenticity, the need to move from political sedation to political agitation. "The struggle without end. Our souls are indestructible."

Linked with Aotearoa's land and identity issues, Moana Jackson speaks of our "colonisation of the mind", how the imperialist process has not ended, that it is still the "values" that hold power. This echoes the thoughts of Frantz Fanon, an early revolutionary and fighter against the "psychology of racism", his influence is felt throughout this journey.

Binding everything is the nature of hip hop, how it is a part of the struggle, part of the process of communication and understanding. To that end, there are several great scenes of freestyling, not from rap superstars, but street deep styles. There are also scenes from Jamaica's Reachout 2002 show and other musical events delineating the power of music and the ties it has to political activism.

Ngatahi is certainly not your usual hip hop product, but one that is designed to educate and agitate with words and images of a 'movement in demand', hip hop as politics, hip hop that isn't manufactured and controlled. Nas told us that, 'the world is yours' - here is a real glimpse of that world, look at it and understand it. Hapeta can stand proud for many things, and this well crafted war chant is an example of his unflinching attitude and vision. Kia Kaha.

KERRY BUCHANAN