Africa Is a Country

Stone breakers

Stone breakers

By
Ts'eliso Monaheng

This edition of Weekend Music Break, number 48, curated by journalist and rapper T'seliso Monaheng, stops over in Senegal, Lesotho, Ghana and South Africa.

Xuman, the rapper, activist and radio host returns with this week’s edition of “Rap Journal”.  They’re part of Y’en A Marre, a collection of rappers and youth activists who is partly responsible for bring Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who after his two terms were up tried to change the constitution and failed. This episode of Rap Journal addresses police corruption in Senegal while paying homage to the South Africa’s beacon of light, Nelson Mandela. Look out for a guest appearance by Dead Prez’s M-1, who was in Senegal recently working on some music.

Disregarding the controversy surrounding their movement in their home country of Lesotho, Kommanda Obbs’ crew D2amajoe (or Lithua-majoe, meaning ‘stone-breakers’ in Sesotho) have released a video which doesn’t veer far away from their name. Hardcore raps over banging beats are complemented by snapshots of their home country as they sing “I’m the size of ‘Malekoporo/ I’m a fish of the ocean/ its size compares to that of the Machache mountain.” It should be pointed out that certain scenes from the video are reminiscent of this one.

If not for the impressive line-up of rappers (from Ghana’s best including EL, M.anifest, D-Black, Sarkodie) on this song (“The ChOsen”), we had to include the video for its YouTube comments. This comment – “… the Reason why Nigerian Music is Far ahead than Ghanaians … i love this Music but the clip is soo lame … the Clip should have been better than this” – sums up the majority of the commenters’ sentiments.

Jam Sandwich is a weekly show on South African national television which endeavours to bring musicians from different musical backgrounds to collaborate on a song. Past jams have included Bongeziwe Mabandla with Dirty Paraffin and Jack Parow with Klipwerf Orkes. Klipwerf Orkes also happens to be one of South Africa’s biggest-selling groups. Here’s Dutch artist Stef Bos and South African rapper Kanyi:

It bears repeating that the quantity of rap music coming out of Senegal is staggering. The legendary Souleymane Faye joins Gaston on this poignant commentary on the loss of societal values among the youth of Senegal.

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.