Music Break / Kommanda Obbs
It was Core Wreckah who first put us on to Lesotho rapper Kommanda Obbs a while
Culture
Law and Disorder
"Law and Order," opened its 13th season with a very transparent plot based on the Dominique Strauss Kahn rape case. It is not very good.
Muslim American Slave
Islam first came to North America with slavery, yet no major studio film has centered on the life of a Muslim American slave. Ibn Said's remarkable life could be a start.
Music Break / Kern Koppen
You might remember the Dutch band Kern Koppen from last year’s collaboration with South African artists
Karl Marx Was Right
The mainstream is waking to the prescience of the old man's ideas.
Music Break / Kastra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL6aGKw6dng Video for Douala rapper Kastra. I haven’t yet figured out what he means with “I’m
From Nairobi to Berlin
Over the last two years, the NRBLN – BLNRB project has brought together German and Kenyan
"Making French money isn't easy"
Mamani Keita arrived in Paris in the late eighties as a backing vocalist for Salif Keita.
Blitz The Ambassador Speaks
Blitz The Ambassador talks about the initial reception of his music (“slow”), the musical Fela! (“it
Music Break / Shabazz Palaces
I’m looking forward to hearing Shabazz Palaces play during their European tour later this month. It
Red Hot Chili Peppers got lost in Ethiopia
The Red Hot Chili Peppers funk jam track Ethiopia came following “a life-changing trip Flea and
Music Break / Youssoupha
Kinshasa-born rapper Youssoupha moved to France at the age of 10. Ever since releasing his first
Music Break / Nneka
Nneka‘s “Soul is Heavy” from her new album. Extras: Part 1 and Part 2.
Father figure
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNn2bqNSS6k&w=600&h=369] Filmmaker Kurt Orderson sent me “The Unseen Ones,” his new 19-minute musical documentary about the
Hugh Masekela’s Football Skills
There's no record that Hugh Masekela could play football. But he acted like he could kick a ball in a music video.
Tupac Shakur in Africa
Tupac Shakur's intensity did not just appeal to just young people in the United States, but also on the continent.
Music Break / NSZ
Young Mauritians are definitely “Fight[ing] Pu More Freedom.” Organizing through Facebook they’ve been on the streets
'Days of Fire'
“Too much politics and the clang of commerce” is staining 9/11 commemorations here in New York
Music Break / Beirut
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdCoVnESsY&w=600&h=369] I’ve had this on repeat. New Mexico band Beirut’s mesh of Balkan and “world music”