New Erasmus partnership
Rap research connects Andalusia and the Bergisches Land region
View of the old town of Córdoba // Photo Colourbox
In Spain, the feminist artist is regarded as a cultural icon of a young generation who epitomised the demand for social justice in her home country. The partnership was initiated by Susana Pinilla Alba, a Romance philologist at the University of Wuppertal, who analysed Gata Cattana's lyrical and musical work as part of her doctorate. In 2023, she organised a highly acclaimed memorial event in Wuppertal, which was attended by students, artists from Spain and the mother of the rapper, who died in 2017.
A return visit to Córdoba in April 2025 - to celebrate the successful "UCO Gata Cattana" scholarship programme - was the starting signal for the new Erasmus+ agreement. In future, Spanish students from Wuppertal will be able to complete a semester of study or an internship in Córdoba.
At the celebrations for the "UCO Gata Cattana" scholarship programme in Córdoba: participants in the panel discussion (from
.l.t.r.) Marta Jiménez, Ana Llorente and Susana Pinilla Alba.
About Gata Cattana
Gata Cattana (real name Ana Isabel García Llorente, 1991-2017) was a Spanish rapper, poet and political scientist from Adamuz in the province of Córdoba. In her lyrics, she combined socially critical rap with elements of classical poetry, political theories and feminist thinking. Her music was characterised by a reflective approach to topics such as gender equality, social inequality, cultural identity and Andalusian heritage.
Despite her early death at the age of just 25, Gata Cattana is now recognised as one of the most influential voices of her generation. She became an icon of feminist and literary hip-hop that has had an impact far beyond the music scene.
Further links
Doctoral thesis by Susana Pinilla Alba to read (in Spanish): "On the poetics of feminist rap. Discursive and aesthetic aspects of a genre of contemporary literature"
Information on ERASMUS in Spain: https://www.romanistik.uni-wuppertal.de/de/internationales/ins-ausland/auslandsstudium-mit-erasmus-in-spanien/
