Film: Filip De Boeck's "Cemetery State"
The Belgian anthropologist Filip De Boeck (remember his excellent “Kinshasa: Tales of the Invisible City“) recently
Culture
Video: Interview with artist Thando Mama
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GWdGfKXK3U&w=500&h=307] A 9-minute excerpt from a new short video documentary (20 minutes in all) about the
Bok van Blerk’s Darkest Africa
Bok van Blerk's new music video mines familiar racist tropes of starving, diseased children in a war-torn African country saved by a blonde heroine and her white male companion.
The Idea of Africa
Singer Rokia Traoré speaking truth to The Times of London: “… Some Europeans who love Africa
Viral Culture: Matt’s dance
A brand of football trickery and showmanship have only reaped bad results on the field for South African teams, but is also a great dance.
'Ya'll feel me even if it's in Swahili'*
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcY34CGzj20&w=500&h=295] The official video for the Nas-Damian Marley’s single, “As We Enter” off “The Distant Relatives”
Mos Def, ‘Supermagic’
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_RXEJLx2Uw&w=500&h=307] I love the sample as well as the graphics in the video for “Supermagic” off
When you have a beer named after you
There's a lot of hype around Didier Drogba, including that he stopped a civil war in Cote d'Ivoire. How much truth is there to that story?
Cornel West speaks on Jane Austen
It’s worth the price of admission to hear Cornel West say of the conservative British author–with
Hugh Masekela Goes to the World Cup
Hugh Masekela and his son, Sal, together explore the people, culture, landscapes and history of South Africa.
When you’re from Africa. Like Africa Africa.
When the dance pop of London-based The Very Best, with one African member (the other two are French and Swedish) is described as very African.
Lagos vs New York
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZX6gUoQGvw&w=500&h=307] By Keziah Jones, who has a new album, “Nigering Wood,” out this Spring, comparing his
Ian Kamau
I first heard this track, “Love it Here,” in the video above, in February this year
Fela! wins on Broadway
Bill T Jones’ “Fela!,” the musical interpretation of the life of the Afrobeat king, is up
Janelle Monáe
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xktMnfb0Q0A&w=500&h=307] Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi of Outkast, “Tight Rope.” James Brown is in the building.
Chocolate Thor
From broadcaster Esther Armah‘s Facebook page: Thought for the Day. Idris Elba, 6 ft 2, Chocolate
Uju
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np72mq3M-9s&w=500&h=307&rel=0] I like the flow of this Johannesburg band, Uju (formerly known as Sound Republic). Their
Boers and Bantus
Vintage clips, from 1961, of Nelson Mandela, ZK Matthews, Helen Joseph, among others, on a Dutch TV program talking liberation from white supremacy.
The Rape of Africa
Celebrity photographer David LaChapelle chose Naomi Campbell to represent how Africa is raped for its resources. Did it work?
Zaki Ibrahim, 'Daylight'
Live video for “Daylight” by Canadian singer Zaki Ibrahim shot in central Cape Town as part