Africa Is a Country

Friday Bonus Music Break, N°28

Friday Bonus Music Break, N°28

By
Tom Devriendt

Kuduro pioneer Sebem (fresh out of prison; he was in for repeated traffic violations, from what I understand) has a new video out (above); the clip’s rural setting is surprising, given kuduro’s over-all urban flow. Next, a Senegalese collaboration between Djibril Diop and Aida Samb:

Kenyan Jeraw draws inspiration and images from local blockbuster film ‘Nairobi Half Life’:

A new video for Belgian-Congolese (but mostly Bruxellois) rapper Pitcho — taken from his new album Rendez-Vous avec le Futur:

Earl Sweatshirt wrote a “letter” to his South African dad Keorapetse Kgositsile:

From Lesotho, a new video (shot in Mozambique) for Kommanda Obbs:

London-based, Douala-born “one-man band” Muntu Valdo has a new video — not sure why YouTube won’t allow you to embed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaM1_CmxjXk

Swiss-Ghanaian singer/improvisational musician Joy Frempong “Oy”; you already know we’ve been following her work:

And two acoustic sessions to wind down. Guinea-Conakry-born, Canada-residing Alpha Yaya Diallo:

And Cape Town-based Beatenberg (whose debut record ‘Farm Photos’ you should give a listen as well):

Et voilà, back on Monday!

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.