Balen Shah: From Rapper to Kathmandu’s Mayor, Nepal’s Gen Z Hero

Balen Shah is not just the mayor of Kathmandu— he’s the face of a youth-led political shift in Nepal.

This month, protests led by Gen Z forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. In the aftermath, many eyes turned to Shah, a 35 year old engineer and former rapper, as a symbol of what comes next.

From Rapper to Mayor

Shah’s path to politics is anything but typical. Before city hall, he built a following through rap songs that attacked corruption and inequality. His 2016 hit Balidan still resonates with young Nepalis who feel locked out of the system. That same authenticity fueled his independent run for Kathmandu mayor in 2022, which he won in a landslide.

Voice of a Generation

For Nepal’s youth, Shah represents change. He often speaks directly to their frustrations while urging restraint. “This rally is a spontaneous movement of Gen Z, for whom even I may seem old,” he wrote recently on Facebook.

The “Balen Effect”

His influence is reshaping politics. After his win, professionals from medicine to tech jumped into the 2022 race, helping a new party rise as Parliament’s fourth-largest force. The “Balen Effect” has shown that outsiders can compete with political elites.

Recognition Beyond Nepal

Recognition has followed abroad. Shah was named to Time’s “Top 100 Personalities of 2023” and profiled by The New York Times, placing him on the global stage.

What’s Next?

Whether he seeks higher office remains to be seen. For now, Shah continues to call for calm in the streets and a future defined by young voices.

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