Africa Is a Country

Music Break. Bonus Friday Edition

Music Break. Bonus Friday Edition

By
Tom Devriendt

5 for le weekend.

“Propaganda” one of a series of songs/videos made by The King’s Will –one half of the UK duo is Musa Okwonga, whose family migrated from Uganda. The song is a homage to PR and advertising pioneer Edward Bernays:

M.E.D.’s “Blaxican.” L.A. identity politics:

A scene from “Coz Ov Moni,” “the world’s first pidgen musical” by Ghanaian duo Fokn Bois. They’ve been posting clips from the film on Youtube. This is the most recent one in the last few days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ETwfWFX9JU

Clips one and two here and here.

A parody of rapper Drake’s “Up All Night” by Toronto-based Nigerian Femi Lawson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9p7UWx5NH0

Sweden and Senegal collaborate. Sousou and Maher Sissoko:

Video for “Rain On My Lips” by rapper Pepe Haze (Burundian) and singer Steph McKee (Kenyan). They’re based in Nairobi, Kenya. The video is described as “the first ever African music video that is entirely in stop motion animation.”

See you Monday.

H/T: Kweligee and Welfare State of Mind.

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.