Gay in Africa
Two photographers - unrelated - highlight the precarious existence of gay lives on the continent.
Culture
The View from Freetown
An interview with the Danish photographer Kim Thue about his work in Sierra Leone's capital.
Madagascar at the Oscars
A French filmmaker witnesses a "the turning of the dead people" ceremony in Madagascar. Amazingly, the film explores this event without necessarily exoticizing it.
A’na Afriki
The connections and shared lineage between Africa and the countries of the Arabian peninsula.
Branding The New Black
Andre Pinard works for a advertising and brand agency that markets products historically associated with white, upper class consumers to the black urban market.
I'm Gonna Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBAFe_TnVsc No more “Down on My Knees.” Nigerian-German singer Ayo‘s new–well at least one month old–single of her upcoming March 2011 release, “Billie-Eve,” is all empowerment.
The Race Card
Bridging the Western art world and the West African film industry, London-based artist Doug Fishbone cast himself as a local farmer in the film Elmina, a feature-length movie shot and produced in Ghana and starring well-known Ghanaian actors. The over-the-top story is rife with witchcraft, murder, and intrigue as the characters battle against corrupt multinational […]
'100% Liberian'
African nationalism from an unlikely quarter; rapper I-20 from Ludacris-owned label, Disturbing Tha Peace. Great hook too. (Actually scrap the stuff about unlikely quarters.) via Bombastic Elements
The Youth of Mali
Old Master Boubacar Traoré (also known as Kar Kar, “the one who dribbles too much”) has a new album out titled “Mali Denhou”. He has some advice for Mali’s youth in the above promo video. In the 2001 documentary I’ll Sing for You you’ll hear Ali Farka Touré say: “If the maximum is 5, I […]
'Lost in Kinshasa'
Listen here.
Music Break
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM4tQ_w__RM] The new video for Nigerian Afrobeat funkster Bantu‘s tune “I’m Waiting.” It’s part of the soundtrack of the new film,”Relentless” (set in Lagos) directed by Andy Okoroafor. The single/video features Nneka. Via Emma Arrogundade.
Music Break
I have this track (and video) on repeat. The Sway Machinery featuring Malian singer Khaira Arby, “Gawad Teriamou.” The video was filmed in and around the Malian capital Bamako, “… while the Sway Machinery was recording their [new] album [“The House of Friendly Ghosts, Vol. 1;” out February 8] with masters of African music including […]
'First Time in Sudan Africa'
Another one of those videos I was forwarded over the break. It’s become something of a rite of passage for rappers to visit Africa. For example this video of Busta Rhymes refusing to let go of an elderly Senegalese woman on Goree Island in Senegal, briefly went viral late last year. In the video above […]
'The Legend of Polokwane'
No not the guy on the left.
Hip Hop is a Database
[vodpod id=Video.5574372&w=500&h=411&fv=]
Fact Checking Mandela
It’s unfortunate the New York Times Book Review handed the appraisal of three recent books about Nelson Mandela–including Mandela’s own new book–to J.M. Ledgard, identified as “the Africa correspondent for The Economist.”* The books are Richard Stengel’s Mandela’s Way, David Smith’s Young Mandela, and Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela. First, there are the factual errors–at least three leap […]
Somewhere in Africa (The Remix)
Remember Meta and Cornerstones’ tune “Somewhere in Africa“? It got a makeover as a remix (with a new video) featuring Peeta of Jamaican reggae band, Morgan Heritage. Have to say I like the remix better.
The Grammys
Distracted by Cee Lo’s chicken suit or Lady Gaga’s latest stunt (she hatched from an egg), you may have missed Vieux Farka Touré accepting the Grammy for Best World Album on behalf of his father, Ali, and Toumani Diabate. Via Modiba.
True Blood or Sushi
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muV6e1HPxcY&w=500&h=307] S: What does this say about contemporary white Afrikaans speaking music culture?