AfricaIs aCountry

When you’re from Africa. Like Africa Africa.

Africa Is a Country Podcast
African Five-a-Side Podcast

When you’re from Africa. Like Africa Africa.

By
Sonja Sugira

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.

The cover art for The Very Best's "The Warm Heart of Africa."

A bit late on this but Pitchfork.tv recently unveiled their latest series, Selector, in which they offer a rapper two different beats, one of which the rapper picks as a backing track for a freestyle. In the premiere episode (taped at the studio where Eddie Murphy’s 80s classic, “Coming to America,” was made), Virginia rap darlings, Clipse, are offered beats from The Very Best and Doom. While there are several comments of note, the most memorable comes when Eavvon (yes, that’s how his name is spelled), the Pitchfork host—without any hint of irony I might add—introduces The Very Best: “They’re actually from Africa. Like Africa Africa.” Just in case there was any confusion.

Of course, it doesn’t matter that the only member of the band that is actually from Africa—like Africa, Africa—is singer Esau Mwamwaya from Malawi. In any case, like Sean, I’m a huge fan of this group. Their 2009 debut, Warm Heart of Africa, is perhaps my favorite release of the past year.

Further Reading

No one should be surprised we exist

The documentary film, ‘Rolé—Histórias dos Rolezinhos’ by Afro-Brazilian filmmaker Vladimir Seixas uses sharp commentary to expose social, political, and cultural inequalities within Brazilian society.

Reading List: Barbara Boswell

While editing a collection of the writings of South African feminist Lauretta Ngcobo, Barbara Boswell found inspiration in texts that reflected Ngcobo’s sense that writing is an exercise of freedom.

Kenya’s stalemate

A fundamental contest between two orders is taking place in Kenya. Will its progressives seize the moment to catalyze a vision for social, economic, and political change?

An annual awakening

In the 1980s, the South African arts collective Vakalisa Art Associates reclaimed time as a tool of social control through their subversive calendars.

More than a building

The film ‘No Place But Here’ uses VR or 360 media to immerse a viewer inside a housing occupation in Cape Town. In the process, it wants to challenge gentrification and the capitalist logic of home ownership.