Two young Libyans whose rap music is being broadcast to the front line by rebel Benghazi radio hope they are helping to maintain the morale of fighters outgunned by Gaddafi forces.
“Rap does not physically change things, but it invigorates the soul of people fighting and sends a message to all Libyans,” 16-year-old Imad Abbar, sitting perched on a paint can in the patio of his home in Benghazi, told AFP news agency.
Hamza Sisi agreed, and the lyrics – in Arabic – he wrote for their rap song “Shamat Al-Medina”, or “Candles of the City”, say all:
The candles of the city shine to tell the world what we want,
The candles of the city won’t rest and won’t give up,
The blood of the fighters is our own,
We won’t surrender until the regime falls.