Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe over the weekend. One of the judges, a former American TV newsreader, Connie Chung, told the AP:”… You have to keep in mind that these women are not objects just to be looked at. They’re to be taken seriously.” Yeh. Meanwhile, here‘s what some other young Angolans–who […]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Is90VKyLk Baylor University students (members of the campus African Studies Association) parodies those icons of 21st century Americana, The Jersey Shore. Nails, biceps and blackberries–and egusi soup–for everyone. That said it is 7 minutes too long.
“Too much politics and the clang of commerce” is staining 9/11 commemorations here in New York City today. So it also makes sense that we look somewhere else for music that articulates how some of us feel. Thanks to Neelika for suggesting the song “Days of Fire” by Nitin Sawhney, featuring singer Natty, as an […]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdCoVnESsY&w=600&h=369] I’ve had this on repeat. New Mexico band Beirut’s mesh of Balkan and “world music” (I know isn’t that the same thing and aren’t all music, world music?) with their 2006 hit “Gulag Orkestar.”
In "One Day I Will Write About This Place," Wainaina wants to create a life uniquely his own.
New video for the Congolese AIAC favorite Lexxus, recorded in Kinshasa, featuring the Kinois rapper LeslyMan.
The vast majority of domestic workers in the Middle East are migrant workers. A fair number are from Africa, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia.
Remember when rapper 50 Cent announced that he would try to provide 1 billion meals over the next five years to poor Africans? His strategy: make some money while “helping” Africans. Watch the video. With every shot you purchase of his new energy drink, Street King, “a meal is provided for a child in need.” […]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOq_6aVOqPI] Italy based, UK Funky influenced, electronic music purveyors Pepe Soup recently released the above song and video, a proud recollection of Liberian childhood punishment survival. The Italian-Liberian duo have been busy this year, releasing a string of EPs on their own label, and contributing to the soundtrack for Al Jazeera and Dutch […]
This is to let you know that we’ll be taking a break from blogging to catch up with our regular lives from August 13 till September 5–that, we’ll be back the day after Labor Day. This is a good time to read through our archive (just read backwards), and, more importantly, like our Facebook Page, and follow […]
Liberian Hipco music culture—”Liberia’s version of hip-hop, the ‘co’ is short for colloquial or Liberian English”—in pictures. The full set via Al Jazeera English). (Separately we’ve blogged about Hipco here.) * Meanwhile, in Senegal: Life President Abdoulaye Wade must wish rap never made it to Senegal. From the BBC here and here. * Talking of […]
Since we’ll be on break for a minute (details tomorrow) when the following central African countries celebrate their independence days, let’s do a quick roundup for Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, and Gabon. August 13, The Central African Republic is the home of Deep House DJ Boddhi Satva, who we talked about here before. [youtube […]