As part of our ongoing commitment to cultural diplomacy, WBL Deputy Directory Stan “Substantial” Robinson headed to Nepal alongside WBL Executive Director Mazi Mutafa, Dancer Shanna, and DJ Fleg.

In February 2024, I traveled to Kathmandu and Biratnagar in Nepal with Words Beats & Life. We had an amazing time work- ing with the Nepal Hip Hop Foundation

(NHHF), the U.S. Embassy Nepal and other organizations to celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop. We performed with local artists at a variety of venues and conducted workshops that covered mcing, DJing, breaking and music production for the community. We participated in panels that discussed the history of hip-hop, empowering women in hip-hop and more. We also spent time building relationships with local media personalities, community stakeholders and many performing artists.

This trip was my first time in Nepal, so I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it would be eye-opening, and I can safely say that my expectations were surpassed. The talent and skill of the artists there rival some of the best in the world. I love seeing artists express themselves via hip-hop while adding their culture and experiences to it to make it uniquely their own. So while it was awesome to share my art with them, I enjoyed watching them share theirs even more.

I always make it a point to try out local cuisine and support local small businesses when I travel. After wrapping up our busy work schedules and crushing more veggie “momos” (Nepalese dumplings) than I care to admit, we scoured the city looking for sou- venirs, bracelets, necklaces and local fashion. While sightseeing, we decided to climb 365 steps to see Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple. The temple offered amazing views and it lived up to the name because there was no shortage of monkeys roaming the grounds.

I’m forever grateful for the experience. It’s a blessing to get an opportunity to take the work you’ve done at home for most of your life and share it with the world. Even more so, learning about other people’s experiences and finding inspiration in their stories. Shout out to Mazi, Fleg, Shanna, Words Beats & Life, NHHF, and the U.S. Embassy. Thanks for the memories.

Written by Stan “Substantial” Robinson Photos courtesy of Arts Envoy 2024