Is this playful ode to coloured identity,* becoming the unofficial World Cup anthem?
Apparently South Africa’s football team–now finally scoring goals in warm up games celebrate by mimicking the dances associate with “(Show them) Make the circle bigger,” with a guest verse by rap mc, HHP. The numbers of people using it as their Facebook update or signing off with it, are numerous. Show them.
Like many other mainstream publications, National Geographic Magazine’s June 2010 issue (out May 25) will host a feature on South Africa. The feature is entitled, “Mandela’s Children” (titled for Mandela’s comments when he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993: “It will… be measured by the happiness and welfare of the children”) and is completed with photographs by James Nachtwey (see the website for slideshow), and a story by writer Alexandra Fuller.
I’ll just put it out there – I really wanted to dislike this feature.
I’m just back from a weekend away so this is my contribution for today. Just a little something to start your week off.
From Ivoirian reggae artist Tiken Jah Fakoly comes “Un Africain A Paris,” a cover of Sting’s “Englishman in New York.” Lyrically, very interesting contrast between the two versions. And, while Sting has Branford Marsalis, I think I prefer Fakoly’s.
h/t @forota
I recently interviewed South African hip hop artist, Lee-Ursus Alexander, who, until this week, was based in Brooklyn. (The video interview is for a proposed series on African immigrant life in New York City.
The video is directed and produced by the talented Nerina Penzhorn.
With the World Cup around the corner reports about South Africa are coming a regular feature in the British media. Even the South Africa fast-food chicken chain Nando’s gets some love in The Observer today. The same paper took an interesting approach for a feature in their Review section this weekend, by asking several South African writers how they see ‘South Africa today’.
So, the BBC has unveiled this trailer, titled “The World Cup from the Rainbow Nation,” to promote its coverage of the 2010 World Cup. As The Guardian notes, the clip features “a montage of African wildlife and cultural scenes mixed with shots of the teams and players” that will compete in South Africa during the Cup. Oh, and the song is by UK band The Dallas Guild. According to Wikipedia, the band was specifically commissioned by the BBC to write the music for their World Cup coverage. This track uses “the synths and drum machines from the band, and their label pulled in a South African Choir to make a piece that crosses both British and South African cultures.”
Waka Waka anyone?
The cover of the May issue of the Spanish edition of Esquire gets into the World Cup spirit.
Genius.
No debate, just enjoy it.
– Sean Jacobs
The Africa we dream of/Only 8 goals away.
This from the “8 Goals for Africa” song, which is part of an awareness and advocacy campaign developed by the United Nations System in South Africa on the eight Millenium Development Goals. As you can see, the song features a veritable who’s who of stars from across the continent: Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Angelique Kidjo, Oliver Mutukudzi, Mingas, Eric Wainaina, HHP, Baba Maal, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Hugh Masekela and Jimmy Dludlu. That’s eight if you’re counting. You know, one for each goal. Clever, isn’t it? Read more on the project here.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
From new work by Cape Town-based photographer Araminta de Clarmont. A photo series on ikrwala (young Xhosa initiates) posing in new clothes–symbolizing their status as “new men”–after returning from initiation school. De Clarmont photographed the young men, who all still attend high school, in the classrooms where they get a formal education: “… As their suits demand instant respect – so too do the men wearing them. Yet what may be the validity of believing in a fresh start, when one’s surroundings have not changed as one has oneself?“
