Pitch Perfect Friday
Africa is not just represented by five nations in the World Cup. Its diaspora is also here courtesy of Euro-American and South American squads.
36 Articles by:
Sonja Sugira
Sonja Sugira was the first person, outside founder Sean Jacobs, to contribute to Africa is a Country.
Africans: Coming to a Zoo Near You!
Why does a prominent American zoo have an exhibition of Africans? Because European peoples and their descendants do not belong in such a place.
Adopting Africa
We should talk about American celebrities’ obsession with adopting African babies. The mostly unfunny comedian Pauly Shore is not our guide.
Madonna: International Human Rights Defender
The breathless reporting of Madonna’s various doings in Africa, including when she is given credit for things she didn’t even do, should stop.
Iman is fierce
The achievements of the Somali model and designer, Iman, in a very racist fashion industry, particularly Paris and New York, should be widely celebrated.
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.
Tell ’em to skate
The first, and only, half-pipe in East Africa, built entirely by the youth from the Kampala suburb of Kitintale.
Vamos a ir a Sudafrica
Mexican broadcasters are no different from their Euro-American counterparts, in peddling outdated stereotypes about Africa.
Rihanna: Back in Blackface?
In the music video for her latest single, “Rockstar 101,” singer Rihanna appears in what looks like blackface.
Keep Africa Alive
Should our contributor Sonja Sugira, usually a harsh critic of humanitarianism, cut Bono’s RED campaign some slack?
The Guardian of Malawi
If you find yourself at a cocktail party this weekend where you may be required to demonstrate your worldly intelligence to the other guests, then The Guardian's "Pass notes" series is for you. A complete (and short!) guide to the most important issues of the day.
Because Africa is sure to be a hot topic (isn't it always?), you can expect that someone will bring up this week's conviction of Malawian couple Steven Mongeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga for so-called "unnatural acts." You, of course, will not be caught unawares, thanks to Pass notes 2,783: Malawi. In less time than it takes to look up the country on a map, you'll learn that it is known as the "warm heart of Africa," that celebrities like love the children there, and that negative attitudes towards homosexuality in Africa are your fault. In the event you are not quite sure what to say, The Guardian has you covered on that too:
Do say: "Colonial legacy or not, I object." Don't say: "Do you think they'll let David and Simon adopt?"This is not funny.
Africa, Now With Internet
Does it sometimes seem like all technology and internet-related projects in and on Africa have to serve some grand purpose?
The Model and The Activist
The one about the black model we all love to hate and the white activist we all just love.
Two Annoying White Men
When Canada’s Globe & Mail newspaper thought it was OK to get two white, Irish men to edit a special issue of the paper on 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.
Cavemen among us; but not in Africa
Researchers find Europeans and Asians share 1% to 4% of their nuclear DNA with Neandertals. But Africans do not. What to do with this information?