Thirteen-year-old Eric Twizera recently took to the stage of Hotel Africana, in Kampala Uganda, and sent crowds crazy during his performance at the fourth edition of the British Council’s WaPi initiative, entitled ‘WaPi My Rights’.

WaPi (Words and Pictures) gives underground artists a platform to talk about and draw attention to issues they have concerns about – whether they are social, political or economic. These artists include rappers, poets, graffiti artists, fashion designers, musicians and many more.

Each WaPi event has a theme, such as ‘rights’, ‘justice’ or ‘the slums’.

These events give unsigned talent the opportunity to play to scouts, record labels and fashion houses eager to discover new talent and develop it.

WaPi was launched in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2006 and now operates in Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania.

Twizera, also known as Ddosa, is a grade five pupil at Stathasius Primary School. This Bow Wow fan says he was taught rapping by his father and has been doing it for as long as he can remember.

‘I started rapping when I was five. I would rap and dance at weddings and birthday parties and for my parents whenever they seemed unhappy.’

Twizera says performing and singing are the two things that he would like to do forever.

‘I want to be a star like Bow Wow and Rocky Giant,’ he says.

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