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.
Culture
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?
America? Begging in Nigeria!
A white woman begging in Lagos's popular Mushin Market. Turns out it is a performance piece.
Testing Negative and Other Stories
Here for your reading list: 10 things I have read quickly, seen or watched, listened to, been forwarded, did not really have the time to think about properly.
Rankin does South Africa
British fashion photographer Rankin sets out on 'his own personal journey' to understand South Africa. The result is actually quite good.
The First Afrikaners
The first group of people who called themselves Afrikaners were Orlams people, who would be called coloured in South Africa today.
Toto meets Mango Groove
FIFA and the South African organizers of the World Cup have unveiled the 2010 World Cup "official" song: It's a rip-off of a Cameroonian military song.
Sleeping Dogs
The poetry of Ronelda Kamfer sheds light on the still marginalized lives of South Africa’s “brown communities.”
Six million dollar paintings
Things I missed or could not give proper attention this week, including artist Marlene Dumas keeping a blacklist barring those who resell her works too quickly from purchasing additional pieces.
The Tribeca Film Festival
Previewing film festivals in the United States and their African offerings is exhausting: there’s little to excite, or the same familiar tropes and themes repeat.
Traces of Bhekumuzi Luthuli
White South African and Americans musicians have borrowed heavily and built a careers off the Maskandi music pioneered by working class musicians like Luthuli.
The Original Queen B
An ode to Busi Mhlongo, the South African singer, composer and danger.
Is this Nollywood?
A lot of people, not just Nigerians or its media, are pleased with white South African photographer Pieter Hugo's portrayal of Nollywood.
The Messiah
There is something tail-swishingly devilish about the way Lionel Messi runs with a football.
Vote Sudan
The result may be a foregone conclusion, but it hasn't stop young Sudanese, via the Girifna Movement, working to get the vote out using music.
Somalia’s colonizers dressed well
Jeffrey Gettleman, The New York Times’ Africa Correspondent, frequently seizes opportunities to slander Africans while praising their colonizers.
Prodigal Son
A white man dressed like Mobuto with two black "assistants" in tow, throw around fake money in Basel. What's this about?
Illegal or Dead
Sorious Samura joined African migrants trying to make it to Europe for menial jobs and loneliness.