Africa Is a Country

June 26th, Madagascar

June 26th, Madagascar

By
Tom Devriendt

Today is the 51st anniversary of Malagasi independence. Things could have been better for its citizens. What with being governed by a former radio DJ and its army and with threats that Western governments and aid agencies will withdraw financial support. Anyway, we’re celebrating. For the sake of the Malagasy people. This is also the start of a new regular gig where we’ll celebrate a country’s independence day by featuring some of the music of its young people. We had a harder time coming up with the short list below (we had an easy time with South Africa’s Youth Day (June 16th) and yesterday’s Mozambique Independence Day), but we found plenty of great stuff available. So here we go. (If we missed anything, let us know.)

Oladad:

K.F.R. feat. KIM:

Aora:

Suprem:

Volkany Sound:

Raboussa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzynGN9aHsI

Further Reading

Writing while black

Percival Everett’s novel ‘Erasure’ raised questions about Black middle-class complicity in commodifying the traumas of Black working-class lives, but the film adaptation leaves little room to explore these tensions.

The Mogadishu analogy

In Gaza and Haiti, the specter of another Mogadishu is being raised to alert on-lookers and policymakers of unfolding tragedies. But we have to be careful when making comparisons.

Kwame Nkrumah today

New documents looking at British and American involvement in overthrowing Kwame Nkrumah give us pause to reflect on his legacy, and its resonances today.