The Kult of Karpe

Karpe, Norway's biggest musical stars, have consistently shattered expectations. The rappers speak to Taller about what it means to be beacons of light for generations of immigrants and their descendants

- Aaina Bhargava

East-west fusion elicits a mixed bag of reactions; sometimes it hits, but sometimes it just doesn't, whether it's in food, art, dance or music. It's difficult to strike the right balance because there is no formula. But Norwegian rap duo Karpe might have cracked the code.

Imagine this surreal scene: a 2,000-strong, predominantly Norwegian crowd in a packed theatre in north London belting out Allah Allah ya baba (Allah Allah, oh Father) at the top of their lungs. Standing on a raised podium in the middle of the floor section, Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid, who is of Egyptian and Norwegian descent, raises his hand and sings the next line of the duo's hit song: "Wa salam alaik ya baba" or "And peace be upon you". Fans of all cultural backgrounds and ages-from three-year-olds to retirees-enthusiastically join in. Back on stage, surrounded by a crew of musicians and dancers, Indian Norwegian Chirag Rashmikant Patel, the other half of Karpe, starts his verse: "Nye sedler og nye sedler/Jeg får nye sedler og nye sedler/Men ingen ser ut som oss på pengene ennå"; the enthralled audience goes wild. Roughly translated, the line means "I get new bank notes, but no one looks like us on the notes just yet."