In Cape Town this January, Ken Salo invited Jessica and I to presentations by summer abroad students from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They were presenting their findings on urban inequalities in the city. A group of students presented on the struggles of a group of residents in Delft, a working class township, who […]
Political parties in South Africa have a new challenge during elections: commissioning a pop ditty people can dance to while political candidates make empty promises from stages.
Could "Sakawa," a form of internet scamming popular in Ghana, be a means by which to make to sense of contemporary life there?
France today is struggling with race because — unlike its former colonies — it never actually went through its own process of decolonization.
It’s the socialist National Football League (of America’s) Draft in New York City this week and one of the two local teams, the New York Giants (they actually play in New Jersey), picked Prince Amukamara, a cornerback from Nebraska, who grew up in the suburbs of Glendale, Arizona. His name and family history (his grandfather was […]
Although the effect of blending the music by Shabazz Palaces and the images of documentary-in-the-making Tough Bond escapes me, for now, I am looking forward to seeing the end results (both of the documentary and the Shabazz Palaces first full album Black Up). Shabazz Palaces sure know how to pick their directors. http://vimeo.com/18653167 Remember the […]
Apparently Akala is “second generation black Caribbean and half white Scottish.” He also has some things to say on a different kind of stage. H/T: Mikko Kapanen
The umpteenth stand-off between Uganda's government and the "Walk to Work" protests by opposition forces.
In some of Cape Town's black townships, residents have to stand in line to use one of the portable chemical toilets made available to them.
From the United States of America, a country of “sideshows and carnival barkers.”
The new reality show "Clifton Shores," promises Americans "fun" views of life in Cape Town. Without trying it probably will expose the ugly reality of racism and inequality in the city.