The Price of Leadership
A new series of documentaries explore the politics of leadership via an imaginative, malleable, deeply personal treatment of history.
6442 Article(s) by:
Rita Nketiah
Rita Nketiah is a feminist researcher, writer and activist living in Accra, Ghana.
Diplo vs Boima Redux
Remember when famed DJ and tastemaker, Diplo, got mad at Africa is a Country's Boima for
Tomorrow’s Marching Band
In the DRC, city life isn’t foremost defined by the image of the child soldier (contrary to what some campaigns would have you believe) but rather by that of the street child. Seen by many as a superfluous presence, a residue or a waste, street children become easy victims of gossip and accusations while at the same time, as a relatively new phenomenon, they are also hard to explain, ultimately turning into something of a danger and a threat that, according to all too many citizens, needs to be dealt with and ideally removed from the stuttering and improvisational city logics.
This is democracy
http://vimeo.com/37612321 In Durban, South Africa, "shackdwellers are taking their municipality to court. The government evicted poor
The coup against democracy in Mali
Here's video of the coup announcement in Mali. Ridiculous. The screen is dark at first -- they were having technical difficulties -- but the image appears after 30 seconds or so. See the scene. As for the speech, it's the usual pompous nonsense, poorly delivered by a junior officer out of his depth.
Golden Theater or Gutted Whore-house
The debates about the misrepresentation of Africa in the international art community as well as privileging diaspora artists over those working in the continent, rages on.
Independence Day in Namibia
Not only is it Human Rights Day in South Africa today (read up on its meaning
Fabrice Muamba and English football
It’s a shame that a player had to suffer from a heart attack to provoke feelings of belonging about him as a refugee and immigrant. It says something about Britain.
Cape Town African Swag
Youngsta built a reputation on doing “straight up Cape Town hip hop,” but his recent output suggests he is now appealing to mainstream audiences.
Undocumented Spanish News
Spanish media is skittish about reporting their country’s discriminatory immigration policy. If they do, they mainly cover its positive exceptions.
The Branson Biennale for Morocco
Vanessa Branson stands, hands on hips, her loosely hanging skirt tails give her the figure of
New films roundup N°1
My latest list of new African films or films with African topics. From now on I'll start numbering them. So this is N°1. This list include "The Ambassador," a Western set in Namibia, a sort of sequal to "eLollipop" and a documentary about Kenya's version of "America's Best Dance Crew."
Music Break. Mokobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd6W5jjOgRA Mokobe commentates on the actions of Rihannon, Naomi Campboule, Rachida Beckham and friends over a
Africa is a Country; the academic edition
Between them Wayne Marshall and Martin Murray pointed me to these 2 panels at the recent the American Geographical Association, which took place recently here in New York City.
Online politics in Angola
In Angola, the ‘pseudo-event’ is all the rage: small in meaning but enlarged by Facebook and cell phones.
#Kony2012 and British media
A review of UK media coverage of the viral politics of the misguided #Kony2012 social media campaign.
Music Break. Rocket Juice and the Moon
Another tune off the Tony Allen—Damon Albarn—Flea conglomerate project Rocket Juice & The Moon. “Follow-Fashion” plays like a horn-flanked afrobeat progression, featuring heavy slap bass from Flea, Damon on the vertical piano, sensuous croons from Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara and verses from Accra MC M.anifest.
A fast train from Dakar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gocEFChg75M Young Philippe Ndour is the nephew of Senegalese pop star Youssou Ndour. And just like his
#Kony2012 the musical
We want to step off #Kony2012 (we promise to lay off them by this weekend), but
Malawians are fed up with Madonna
Malawi is fed up with Madonna and her school daze, with the singer’s refusal to consult