
To hear musicians breathe
An ode to The Mahogany Room, the pre-eminent live jazz venue in Cape Town, South Africa.

An ode to The Mahogany Room, the pre-eminent live jazz venue in Cape Town, South Africa.

In post-socialist, growth-oriented Angola, the rich are getting richer and the poor have only their faith.

The existence of African billionaires are not positive evidence of “Africa rising,” but testament to the extreme inequality characterizing economic growth on the continent.

This is not a neo-colonial offensive. The argument that it is might be comfortable and familiar, but it is bogus and ill-informed.

Plying potential audiences with expansive vistas, mystery, exotic landscapes, and ancient holdovers are time worn formulas when presenting Africa to Western audiences.


We asked about a dozen Africa Is a Country contributors what their favorite books of 2012 were. Here are their picks.


In any case, here's 10 albums I liked this year; in no particular order. It includes Alabama Shakes, Isaac Mutant, Kendrick Lamar and Bruce Springsteen.

Janka Nabay, Ben Zabo, Sinkane, Jagwa Music, Kanyi, Youssoupha, Kyle Shepherd, Ebo Taylor, Karantamba and Francis Bebey.

Our very biased selection of the top 10 music videos of 2012.