‘…No Man’s Land…’: Eno Barony’s navigation of Ghana’s male-dominated rap scene

This recent article, “‘…No Man’s Land…’: Eno Barony’s navigation of Ghana’s male-dominated rap scene,” published in Global Hip Hop Studies, highlights the cutting-edge scholarship being produced by graduate students in Howard University’s Department of African Studies. In this study, Yaw M. Asare and Amartey Laryea analyze the work of Ghanaian rapper Eno Barony, examining how she challenges gender norms and asserts her place within a historically male-dominated industry. Through a close reading of her debut album Yaa Asantewaa, the authors explore how Barony uses lyrical techniques such as braggadocio, metaphor, and gender fluidity to construct a powerful artistic identity and amplify the voices of African women in hip hop.

Authored by doctoral scholars Yaw Asare and Amartey Laryea, whose research spans African diaspora engagement, cultural studies, philosophy, governance, and hip hop studies, the article contributes to broader conversations on gender, power, and representation in African popular culture. Grounded in hip hop feminist theory, their work situates Barony within a lineage of African women’s resistance—drawing on the legacy of Nana Yaa Asantewaa to frame contemporary struggles for visibility and equity.

[READ FULL ARTICLE IN GLOBAL HIP HOP STUDIES]

 

Yaw Asare is a Ph.D. student in the Department of African Studies at Howard University. His research interests include African diaspora engagement policies, film, and cultural studies. He also serves as the Akan Twi instructor at Howard University.

 

Amartey Laryea is a doctoral student in the Department of African Studies at Howard University. He is a fellow of the Frederick Douglass Doctoral Fellowship and a member of the African Studies Association. His research spans Philosophy, Governance, Hip Hop Studies, and AI’s impact on Knowledge Production.