Hamé - La Rumeur
Encyclopedia
Mohamed BOUROKBA, aka Hamé, was born in 1975 in Perpignan
, south France
. He was the fifth in a family of six children, from two different mothers. The family settled in France during the 1950s. His Algeria
n father, who could neither read nor write, spent his life working like a slave in the fields as a farm labourer. After the death of his wife in the early 70s, he remarried quickly for the sake of his three daughters. His new wife, Hamé's mother, was twenty years younger than he was. She also came from Algeria. She became a housekeeper
, learned to read and write, and quickly turned the conditions imposed on her to her advantage. Hamé watched movies with his father: spaghetti western
s, Charlie Chaplin
, stories about the war in Algeria (L'opium et le bâton, Chroniques des années de braise, Les déracinés, La Bataille d'Alger). During the holidays he returned home, doing his first paintings there. Men smoked in cinemas, Bruce Lee
fought on the screen. Mohamed loved stories: he drew, he read. But when he discovered rap, he grabbed hold of it. But in a scientific way, in order to open doors to the future. He left the province when he passed his bac. And started making money.
Wanting to surround himself with images, Hamé studied cinema at the Sorbonne
. Rap played a big part in his life; he collaborated with the group La Rumeur
, which emerged in an environment increasingly weakened by commercialism
. He made several videos for the group. After obtaining his masters in film and literature, Hamé was awarded a scholarship
. He spent a year at New York University
's Tisch School of the Arts
.
Five short films later, Hamé returned to France, determined to move to the other side of the camera. He wanted to write and direct films dealing with those subjects that were of greatest importance to him. Je ne suis pas le gardien de mon frère ('I am not my brother's keeper'), his first short film, received the support of CNC and French TV channel Arte, and addresses the subject of post-colonial immigration
. Canal Plus has signed him to write a hip-hop musical about integrity and temptation. He has also written a feature film
, Faux, the story of an imposter, which he hopes to shoot in 2012. Hamé is also working on writing a novel to be published by Les Editions du Seuil.
Since 2002, Hamé has been involved with a series of legal proceedings
which became a political tug of war, and which, due to their novelty, have been covered by the international press (Herald Tribune
, El Pais, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Le Monde
). After a pamphlet was published in the magazine La Rumeur, Nicolas Sarkozy
, who was then interior minister, filed a complaint against Hamé. In his article, the author addressed the issue of insecurity in urban neighborhoods, concentrating on the role of the police and power politics
. Hamé defended his statements on their merits, citing witnesses that included academics, historians, sociologists and linguists. In the name of freedom of expression, he was acquitted at trial and on appeal. Hamé now faces returning to court for the third time. The interior ministry has never before pursued defamation charges so persistently. In 2010, the case remains at large.
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
, south France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was the fifth in a family of six children, from two different mothers. The family settled in France during the 1950s. His Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n father, who could neither read nor write, spent his life working like a slave in the fields as a farm labourer. After the death of his wife in the early 70s, he remarried quickly for the sake of his three daughters. His new wife, Hamé's mother, was twenty years younger than he was. She also came from Algeria. She became a housekeeper
Housekeeper
Housekeeper may refer to:* Housekeeper , a woman heading up domestic maintenance* Maid, a female with various domestic duties* Janitor, a person responsible for institutional maintenance* A person engaged in housekeeping...
, learned to read and write, and quickly turned the conditions imposed on her to her advantage. Hamé watched movies with his father: spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
s, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, stories about the war in Algeria (L'opium et le bâton, Chroniques des années de braise, Les déracinés, La Bataille d'Alger). During the holidays he returned home, doing his first paintings there. Men smoked in cinemas, Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
fought on the screen. Mohamed loved stories: he drew, he read. But when he discovered rap, he grabbed hold of it. But in a scientific way, in order to open doors to the future. He left the province when he passed his bac. And started making money.
Wanting to surround himself with images, Hamé studied cinema at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. Rap played a big part in his life; he collaborated with the group La Rumeur
La Rumeur
La Rumeur is a french-language rap group from Élancourt ). Founded in 1997, the group is composed of four rappers, Ekoué, Hamé, Mourad, and Philippe, and two DJs, Kool M and Soul G....
, which emerged in an environment increasingly weakened by commercialism
Commercialism
Commercialism, in its original meaning, is the practices, methods, aims, and spirit of commerce or business. Today, however, it primarily refers to the tendency within open-market capitalism to turn everything into objects, images, and services sold for the purpose of generating profit...
. He made several videos for the group. After obtaining his masters in film and literature, Hamé was awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. He spent a year at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
.
Five short films later, Hamé returned to France, determined to move to the other side of the camera. He wanted to write and direct films dealing with those subjects that were of greatest importance to him. Je ne suis pas le gardien de mon frère ('I am not my brother's keeper'), his first short film, received the support of CNC and French TV channel Arte, and addresses the subject of post-colonial immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
. Canal Plus has signed him to write a hip-hop musical about integrity and temptation. He has also written a feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, Faux, the story of an imposter, which he hopes to shoot in 2012. Hamé is also working on writing a novel to be published by Les Editions du Seuil.
Since 2002, Hamé has been involved with a series of legal proceedings
Legal proceedings
Legal proceedings may refer to:*Legal process** Trial :*** Lawsuit, a civil trial*** Criminal trial* Hearing ** Administrative hearing** Congressional hearing* Impeachment proceedings* Court orders**Foreclosure**Receivership*Arbitration...
which became a political tug of war, and which, due to their novelty, have been covered by the international press (Herald Tribune
Herald Tribune
Herald Tribune may refer to:* International Herald Tribune, widely read international newspaper, based in Paris since 1887*Sarasota Herald-Tribune, daily newspaper in Florida*New York Herald Tribune, daily newspaper in New York, created in 1924...
, El Pais, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
). After a pamphlet was published in the magazine La Rumeur, Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
, who was then interior minister, filed a complaint against Hamé. In his article, the author addressed the issue of insecurity in urban neighborhoods, concentrating on the role of the police and power politics
Power politics
Power politics, or Machtpolitik , is a state of international relations in which sovereigns protect their own interests by threatening one another with military, economic, or political aggression...
. Hamé defended his statements on their merits, citing witnesses that included academics, historians, sociologists and linguists. In the name of freedom of expression, he was acquitted at trial and on appeal. Hamé now faces returning to court for the third time. The interior ministry has never before pursued defamation charges so persistently. In 2010, the case remains at large.
External links
- http://www.la-rumeur.com
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/world/europe/23iht-rapper.4.16422288.html
- http://www.liberation.fr/portrait/0101104787-tous-coupables
- http://www.telerama.fr/musique/la-rumeur-huit-ans-de-proces-contre-nicolas-sarkozy,57767.php
- http://www.cinematheque.fr/fr/dans-salles/hommages-retrospectives/archives/fiche-manifestation/carte-blanche-hame-soutien-rumeur,8213.html
- http://www.purepeople.com/media/le-rappeur-hame_m479619