Blood Diamond (n.) - a diamond mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an army's war efforts.
Bling! is a 90' documentary that focuses on the complex relationship between blood diamonds, conflict, the influence of Hip-Hop music and culture, and development.
Join Paul Wall, Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan, and Tego Calderon as they travel to Sierra Leone and give a voice to local Hip-Hop artists, diamond diggers, and the men, women, and children who had their lives forever changed by their country's diamond-fueled civil war.
Understanding and tackling the illegal exploitation of diamonds in Sierra Leone is an integral part of addressing the root-causes of violence and of stopping it from errupting again. The diamond trade in Sierra Leone has both funded the recent war and perpetuated it as all sides battled for control of lucrative mineral wealth.
Using the power of the hip-hop music, Bling! shows how you can be a conscious consumer and encourage clean diamonds.
Credits
Bling! is a production of VH1 Rock Docs, Article 19 Films, Djali Rancher Productions, and the United Nations Development Program. It is directed by Raquel Cepeda and features Hip-Hop artists from the US and Sierra Leone. Learn more about Bling!