[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq_HP8mgT8A&w=500&h=307&rel=0] The video for Dutch hip hop group Zwart Licht‘s single “Vanaf Nu.” Via @Mustafa Maluka: “This track is my anthem for the moment. Ghanaian diaspora in Amsterdam doing it well.” * I am providing a literal translation. I think “vanaf nu” also means “now.”

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/11738776 w=500&h=281] Beautifully shot short film about the fate of 10,000 residents displaced after a thriving market in Ajelogo, a neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria, was destroyed by local authorities. The film is told through the perspective of one of the residents. The director is Charles “Stretch” Ledford, a University of Miami communications student and working […]

We also aim to educate. Over the next few months, Allison Swank will commence a new weekly series on popular (and not-so-popular) films in the United States ‘about’ Africa. The focus will be on the idea of representations and how they contribute to the broader idea of Africa in the West. Let’s get the academic-speak […]

An authoritative, comprehensive reference work covering South Africa’s history, politics, law, society and culture, economy, environment, and more, from the era of human origins to the present.

You know we give Bono a lot of grief on this site, but in this commercial for ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 World Cup–bar a few disagreements here and there–he is on point. Did I just say that. Just in this case of course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXlBSlyU8xY * BTW, ESPN has put a lot of money into […]

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/9002801 w=500&h=281] Rapper Blitz the Ambassador (representing for the Ghanaian diaspora and Brooklyn), featuring Tess, who can sing, doing the song “Something to Believe,” off Blitz’s new “StereoLive” album. (BTW, he has an EP, called “Native Son,” coming up which features songs written entirely in Twi.) I like this big band sound on this song. […]

[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUEvngFue8&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Via Mustafa Maluka

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhrgnCAydu4&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Your parents’ Congolese music–like it needs the jolt–gets the dance music treatment from the kids, Paris-based b-boys, LogobiGT. — Sean Jacobs

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM_Ew6zsnDY&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Is this playful ode to coloured identity,* becoming the unofficial World Cup anthem? Apparently South Africa’s football team–now finally scoring goals in warm up games celebrate by mimicking the dances associate with “(Show them) Make the circle bigger,” with a guest verse by rap mc, HHP.  The numbers of people using it as their […]

“Patience,” another track of the much anticipated “Distant Relatives” project.  Nas and Damian Marley channels Amadou & Mariam’s “Sabali.” — Sean Jacobs

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/10881896 w=500&h=281] Love this video and rapper Jalin Rose‘s flow. The sample is off Ski’s “24 Hour Karate School,” featuring Mos Def. It’s also called “Taxi.” — Sean Jacobs

The very talented Ivorian artist Paul Sika (I’ve linked to Paul’s work last year on my old blog) has sent me an email about the publication of his new book, “At The Heart Of Me…” which is now available at Paul’s brand new Paul Sika Store. Here‘s a link the trailer for the project. Paul […]

The Belgian anthropologist Filip De Boeck (remember his excellent “Kinshasa: Tales of the Invisible City“) recently finished a thought-provoking documentary, “Cemetery State,” on Kinshasa’s largest burial grounds. Here’s a synopsis of the film from when it recently played at the London International Documentary Festival: In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, children […]