MAKE RAP NOT WAR

BarbieQ“Yeah, just like you say, war is absolutely no game,
You say I’m a pacifist, but that doesn’t do much for peace.”
Queen Liberation: “Sure, you’re such a great role model for my brother,
until you teach him how to kill people.”
“Make Rap Not War” We speak out where silence would be more comfortable. Our project brings the contradictions of our time to the stage: peace, conscription, friendship, and stance. And it does so in the format of a feminist rap battle, transcending and playfully subverting patriarchal structures.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, conscription has been reintroduced in Germany. But you can’t simply compare Germany to Ukraine.
We need nuanced, feminist discussions about the specific situation in Germany. Conscription is most often discussed in rigid formats.
But we need the space to let our own feelings be part of the discussion.
The rap battle encourages people to dare to engage in heated discussions with one another. The more discussions, the better. It’s about being able to appreciate even contradictory arguments. In the process, it draws the crowd into a rhythmic frenzy of battle. After all, a well-executed debate is something to be enjoyed, isn’t it?
Directed by Liv Kallmeyer
Ley Akpinar as Queen Liberation
Luana Weiß as Barbie Q
Liv Kallmeyer as Jojo
Text by Elio Nini and Liv Kallmeyer
Music by Victoria Stellpflug
The play is strongly shaped by multiple identities and perspectives spanning Germany, Ukraine, and Belarus, and explores themes such as the “Post-East” discourse and post-migrant queer-feminist self-understanding.
Rap is an important—yet only one part of the broader hip-hop culture—and was invented by Black people and people of color. Their advocacy for their rights and the raising of their voices against injustices have strongly shaped the musical genre. Without them, this rap battle would not exist today.
This play is dedicated to the freedom of all people.