The Stories We Tell About Africa
Chris Abani's musings on telling African stories gets at just about everything Sonja thinks about as she encounters "Africa" every day, and then attempt to write about it.
Culture
Tell ’em to skate
The first, and only, half-pipe in East Africa, built entirely by the youth from the Kampala suburb of Kitintale.
From Now On*
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq_HP8mgT8A&w=500&h=307&rel=0] The video for Dutch hip hop group Zwart Licht‘s single “Vanaf Nu.” Via @Mustafa Maluka:
After the Bulldozers
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/11738776 w=500&h=281] Beautifully shot short film about the fate of 10,000 residents displaced after a thriving
Africa on Film: A New Series
We also aim to educate. Over the next few months, Allison Swank will commence a new
Rihanna: Back in Blackface?
In the music video for her latest single, "Rockstar 101," singer Rihanna appears in what looks like blackface.
The Encyclopedia of South Africa
One of the first authoritative, comprehensive reference work covering South Africa’s history, politics, law, society and
Keep Africa Alive
Should our contributor Sonja Sugira, usually a harsh critic of humanitarianism, cut Bono's RED campaign some slack?
Bono did something right
You know we give Bono a lot of grief on this site, but in this commercial
'Something to Believe'
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/9002801 w=500&h=281] Rapper Blitz the Ambassador (representing for the Ghanaian diaspora and Brooklyn), featuring Tess, who
Fresh hiphop funk from Cameroon
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUEvngFue8&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Via Mustafa Maluka
Vroom. Vroom
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhrgnCAydu4&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Your parents’ Congolese music–like it needs the jolt–gets the dance music treatment from the kids,
Renunciation and redemption
The deadly serious games of J M Coetzee's novel about the transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa, 'Disgrace.'
The Unofficial World Cup Song?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM_Ew6zsnDY&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Is this playful ode to coloured identity,* becoming the unofficial World Cup anthem? Apparently South
Flavor of the Month
The UK Observer, despite its best attempts, does not have its finger on the pulse of the South African literary scene. The World Cup didn't help.
African Hospitality
The artist Andrew Putter make use of the past to construct images of how we might live together in the future.
Nas and Damian Marley channel Amadou and Mariam
“Patience,” another track of the much anticipated “Distant Relatives” project. Nas and Damian Marley channels Amadou
Friday Music: Jalin Rose
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/10881896 w=500&h=281] Love this video and rapper Jalin Rose‘s flow. The sample is off Ski’s “24
Paul Sika, "Andy Warhol’s grandson"
The very talented Ivorian artist Paul Sika (I’ve linked to Paul’s work last year on my
The Lost Bushmen
It is still okay to create the most objectionable stereotypes about certain Africans and for it to be considered fine. This time: India.