AfricaIs aCountry

June 26th, Madagascar

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

June 26th, Madagascar

By
Tom Devriendt

Today is the 51st anniversary of Malagasi independence. Things could have been better for its citizens. What with being governed by a former radio DJ and its army and with threats that Western governments and aid agencies will withdraw financial support. Anyway, we’re celebrating. For the sake of the Malagasy people. This is also the start of a new regular gig where we’ll celebrate a country’s independence day by featuring some of the music of its young people. We had a harder time coming up with the short list below (we had an easy time with South Africa’s Youth Day (June 16th) and yesterday’s Mozambique Independence Day), but we found plenty of great stuff available. So here we go. (If we missed anything, let us know.)

Oladad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HPDBB6kk-w

K.F.R. feat. KIM:

Aora:

Suprem:

Volkany Sound:

Raboussa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzynGN9aHsI

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.