Geo-branding is a serious thing. It is particularly serious when people from other geographic areas decide to brand your geographical area and the people in it, the way they see fit and the way that fits their purposes. No other country, region or continent, I’d argue, suffers from other peoples’ nonsense as much as the continent of Africa. Actually, the reason why people generally and casually talk about Africa as one place is because of what Nigerian-American author C. P. Eze refers to as “their geo-branding war”. [Read more...]
The geo-branding war
April 30, 2012 By 17 Comments
Africa and contemporary art
November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I am no contemporary art expert. Sometimes one has to start with a disclaimer. The term and whatever definition whoever gives to it have been on that awkward zone where I have felt that I should be equipped with more specific knowledge to say even something quite generic about it. Also, my intuitive and somewhat outdated direct connection between the idea of contemporary and fine art has always had this self-manufactured inner conflict with my identity relating to counter culture. Even if the conflict wouldn’t really exist, I have imagined it. I think I have been quite elitist in avoiding certain kinds of art, so I found myself rethinking a few things as I was going to see ARS 11 exhibition in the Kiasma museum of contemporary art in Helsinki, Finland. This year the tag line promised that the exhibition “changes your perception of Africa and contemporary art”.
Music Break
May 28, 2011 By 2 Comments
‘Feel Me’ is the second track from a soon-to-be released EP by (Kinshasa-born) Finnish rapper Gracias. (‘HKI’ was a first.) I can’t remember last seeing a copy of King Leopold’s Ghost featured in a music video.
H/T: Mikko Kapanen
