MWF Alumnus Promotes Fair Elections and HIV/AIDS Funding through Hip-Hop

Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) alumnus, Brian “B-Flow” Bwembya, is a Zambian hip-hop phenomenon, promoting peaceful elections and increased HIV/AIDS funding. Selected for the program due to his activism through music on anti-sex-based violence, anti-child marriage, and HIV/AIDS prevention, B-Flow continues to spread his message in Zambia and South Africa.

During his recent July 15-16 trip to Durban, South Africa he partnered with Queen Latifah and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to lead 5,000 marchers advocating for more HIV/AIDS program funding. B-Flow performed alongside other artists at the “Keep the Promise Concert” to remind world leaders to continue funding HIV prevention and treatment.

In Zambia, B-Flow partnered with three other MWF alumni to launched and register the “I Stand 4 Peace Foundation” which promotes peaceful elections, dialogue, and tolerance. They started a social media campaign using #IStand4Peace which features aspiring politicians, youth leaders, and university students. They hope to lead community-based training workshops that promote respect for people, civil rights, and trust-building between and among political leaders and community members. B-Flow and his partners were inspired by fellow YALI alumni in Uganda who started the #IPledgePeaceUg campaign.

After his 2015 MWF experience, B-Flow partnered with Young Women in Action, a Zambian NGO, on a “Triple V: My Vote, My Voice, My Victory” campaign. B-Flow and Young Women in Action aim to motivate Zambia’s 1.5 million newly registered voters to participate in the upcoming elections.

B-Flow gained recognition from President Barak Obama at the 2015 WMF President’s Town Hall. The President said, “Brian uses music to advocate against things like sex-based violence and to educate youth on HIV/AIDS. So while in the U.S., he’s learned about our health care system, met the founder of an American HIV/AIDS organization, and now he plans to start a record label for music about social change. So, Brian, we’re proud to be your partner.”