Necessary doses of pan-Africanism: Esperanza Spalding’s “Black Gold”

It’s not too late to take your vitamins. And this. Jazz bass player and bandleader Esperanza Spalding, who defeated Bieber nation last year, takes on school curriculum and Black History Month with the song “Black Gold,” the single from her album “Radio Music Society.” She gets some help from vocalist Algebra Blessett. We’ll forgive the little boy for going on about Africa has “86 countries.” A more pressing issue: Where can I get that book the dad is flipping through? And that’s your #MusicBreak.

Further Reading

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.

Goodbye, Piassa

The demolition of an historic district in Addis Ababa shows a central contradiction of modernization: the desire to improve the country while devaluing its people and culture.