Parallel testimonies of Youssoupha, a rap artist and Thomas. Evocation of rap as an object of censorship, often criminalised by successive governments, and as a weapon of political struggle, far removed from the clichés of commercial rap.

For decades, Nigerian icon Fela Kuti revolutionized “afro-beat”, a unique blend of driving funk and traditional African music that carried his message of liberation and dignity in the face of corruption. After Fela's death in 1997, his son Femi Kuti took over the afrobeat throne, and in 2000, Femi opened the New Africa Shrine in Lagos. A community center during the day and venue for ecstatic concerts at night, the Shrine is Femi's home... “Can't Buy Me”, Femi intones while the horns propel the music forward, dancers undulate, and the crowd finds release from the troubled state of the country in the joyous celebration...

This controversial, startling and hypnotic mix of music and visuals is a semi-autobiographical psycho-drama following one addict's journey from sickness to health, anguish to well being. The Chappaqua filmscape is polulated with counter-cultural icons: Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs, Jean Louis Barrault and Ornette Coleman...