‘Very African and Very Modern’

February 1, 2012 By 2 Comments

Written by Wayne Marshall*
As if there weren’t already enough to tease out about Konono N°1 and Congotronics, a recent article in The Guardian points to a song and video called “Karibu Ya Bintou” by Baloji, a Congo-born rapper who cut his teeth on the Belgian hip-hop scene but who has worked over the last few years to return to “roots” — in part by incorporating “traditional” sounds of the Congo, from soukous guitars to Konono’s hallmark distorted likembé. The latter can be heard supporting the vivid video for “Karibu Ya Bintou”:

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Filed Under: FEATURED, MUSIC, OPINION, VIDEO Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘Support unborn African babies’

January 19, 2012 By 1 Comment

A Belgian organization (backed by a smart advertising agency) “is calling on unborn babies in Belgium, to do something about the thousands of unborn babies in Africa that do not survive their own birth.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADVERTISING, FEATURED, MEDIA Tagged With: , , , , , ,

I remember Black Pete*

November 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

As a child, I never believed in Santa Claus.

I believed in Saint Nicholas and Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). I remember waking up as a child on December 6, 1983, three hours before daybreak. I also remember waking up early on December 6 for years afterwards. Always early, always too excited to go back to sleep the night Saint Nicholas came by our house. Over the years, I got to share this rush of euphoric anxiety with my two younger brothers. We would be jumping on our beds, calling our parents, yelling out to ask whether it was time yet. They were never amused. My brothers and I knew there was no way we could pussyfoot downstairs into the living room to see which presents He had left us. Because each year, Saint Nicholas’s black servants, those sneaky Black Petes (‘Zwarte Pieten’) would have locked the room’s door on their way out. My parents held its only key.

You know Black Pete?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: FEATURED, MISC Tagged With: , , , ,

Beyoncé does it again

October 7, 2011 By 7 Comments

You think Beyoncé flew in Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaker and her dance company Rosas for the second part of her new video ‘Countdown’ (watch the video on her website – starting around 2:30)? We know she can. Ask Tofo Tofo. But she didn’t.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: MUSIC Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Today I’ll eat for Belgium

September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yes, some Europeans, specifically Belgians — who else but “a fine group of web designers, web developers, communication specialists, tech, boys and girls” — came up with this idea. So if someone asks you why you need another piece of cake, just say “I’m eating for Africa.” To help starving “people and children” in East Africa.

Get people to eat. Endless opportunities for creative people like you.

Filed Under: FEATURED, MISC Tagged With: , , , , ,

Music Break

June 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This new video for Belgian MC Akro (former member of Starflam, the same crew Baloji used to be part of before he decided to go his own way) pretty much sums up his (and my) country’s imaginary relationship with the DRC: Tintin, King Leopold, King Baudouin, Mobutu and Soukous. Leopold’s 19th century Triumphal Arch (which he paid for with the money he leached off Congo) forms the background for guest singer “Jesus De Tchango”. Look out for the “Leopold Wants You” flyers.

Filed Under: FEATURED, MISC Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Restaurant Manager

May 31, 2011 By 1 Comment

If you missed this: Lilian Thuram, the former footballer who won a World Cup medal with France in 1998 and sometimes philosopher, was in Brussels last week to promote his anti-racism campaign. While having lunch at a restaurant, the staff there told him that the toilets were “reserved for clients.” The manager David Martin is quoted as saying it is all a “misunderstanding,” and “… we didn’t know he was a client and I admit I didn’t recognise him. There was no wilful discrimination.”

Martin has offered his apologies: “I also told him I would love to cook for him. But (Thuram) didn’t want to stay. I really regret I am being accused of racism. I grew up among Algerians in this neigborhood and I have two blacks and a Morrocan guy working in my kitchen.”

Source.

More here and here.

Filed Under: JOURNALISM Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Belgian Color Bar

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Roland Gust was born to a Congolese mother and a Belgian father. He grew up in Congo, believing he was white. That is, until his family decided to return to Belgium when he was twelve. Twenty years later, in a recently released documentary, Colour Bar, we follow him in his desire to find a grammar to describe his past. 5 Questions for Roland Gust.– Tom Devriendt

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Filed Under: FILM Tagged With: , , , ,

Music Break

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Brussels rapper Brams aka L’Insatiable (born in Cameroon) has been working on some promising collaborations lately. This one, ‘Stop Look & Listen’, with wandering hip-hop artist Juba Zaki (hailing from Crown Heights, Brooklyn) being a case in point.

Filed Under: FEATURED, MISC Tagged With: , , , , ,

Music Break

March 24, 2011 By 3 Comments

Remember the Belgian-Congolese project Héritage? It took them a while to record a video for one of the featuring songs. The two singers on this track are Stefy Rika and Nina Miskina. You’ll recognize the infamous Africa Museum’s diorama in the first part. It gets interesting halfway through.

Filed Under: FEATURED Tagged With: , , , , ,
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