By Andreas Elbke Mortensen, volunteer journalist at Roskilde Festival's Media House (Photo: Henrik Arum)
For years, Re:Act has been a fixture at Roskilde Festival. Inside the purple walls surrounding the white tent in Camping West, music, art and activism come together in a programme that turns human rights into something you experience, discuss and become part of.
And if you've never stopped by before, chances are you've missed some unforgettable moments.
"Our wildest booking ever was probably the Ukrainian rapper Otoy, who is also a soldier and has served on the front line in the war against Russia," says Mads Lemmike, project manager at Rapolitics, which creates the programme at Re:Act together with the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Roskilde Festival.
That was back in 2024. On the very same day, Palestinian rapper Khaled Harara from Gaza was also on the programme, and the two unexpectedly found themselves sharing the stage in a conversation about the right to a home.
"Those are the moments when Re:Act means the most," Mads Lemmike says.
The ambition is to engage young people in conversations about human rights through rap and hip hop. And there's one group they especially hope to reach.
"The people who don't normally think about human rights. We hope they leave wanting to stand up for something."
There's a reason rap plays such a central role at Re:Act.
"Rap is a brilliant way to communicate because it lets us meet people at eye level. It brings these issues to life," Mads Lemmike says.
This year you can catch legendary underground rapper R.A. The Rugged Man or experience Outlandish in a live performance followed by a conversation.
But Re:Act is about much more than rap. Last year, Greta Thunberg stopped by for a talk. This year, you can play Human Rights Bingo with Mizz Privileze, meet multidisciplinary artist Negash Ali, or join Lucia Odoom for a reading and conversation about identity and belonging.
Every day ends with a freestyle rap session, where the audience throws in the themes and some of Denmark's sharpest freestyle MCs transform them into rhymes on the spot.
"It's our way of bringing the whole day together. Tuesday especially turns into one big closing celebration," Mads Lemmike says with a smile.
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One of the most uncompromising and technically gifted voices in hip hop.
Expect explosive energy, intricate rhyme schemes and the authenticity that has made R.A. The Rugged Man one of underground rap's true heavyweights.
R.A. The Rugged Man: Monday at 16:00.
What does it really mean to belong?
Author and culture journalist Lucia Odoom invites you to a reading and conversation about home – not just as a place, but as something we create through relationships, culture and identity.
Lucia Odoom: Tuesday at 11:00.
It looks like bingo. But it's really about the right to be yourself.
Mizz Privileze mixes lip-sync performances, humour and plenty of glitter with conversations about freedom of expression, love and LGBTQI+ rights. You might even walk away with a prize.
Human Rights Bingo with Mizz Privileze: Tuesday at 12:00.
How do art, identity and activism come together?
Multidisciplinary artist Negash Ali explores exactly that in a performance where live music and conversation flow seamlessly together. He invites you and your friends behind the lyrics to reflect on identity, belonging and finding your place in the world.
Negash Ali: Tuesday at 15:00.
For more than 25 years, Outlandish have written songs about identity, faith, migration and community.
At Re:Act, they'll perform a short live set before sitting down for a conversation about the cultural encounters and communities their music has helped create.
Outlandish: Tuesday at 16:00.
Every day at Re:Act ends with freestyle rap.
You get to throw the themes into the mix, and some of Denmark's finest freestyle MCs will improvise their way through everything from body image and equality to shame, social norms and identity.
Rapolitics Freestyle Rap Show: Monday and Tuesday at 17:00.
