From rap to literature: Creativity as a strategy of resistance in Portugal through the works by Telma Tvon

The present work discusses rap and literature as a means of cultural resistance in postcolonial Portugal. I argue that, especially in the hands of Black women, these two different practices can become compelling platforms against different forms of power exploitation. In order to do this, I examine two works by rapper and writer Telma TVon: the album Finalmente (Dreamflow Records, 2005), recorded with soul singer and MC Geny under the name of Lweji, and her first novel, the recently-published Um preto muito português (Chiado Editora, 2018). In both works, creativity is cleverly handled to convey messages of revolt and resistance against racial and gender prejudice, social inequalities and injustice in its many different forms.