For the past couple of months, I’ve only been able to get out posts on a biweekly basis because my graduate school load was fairly heavy. But things have eased up a bit for now and I’m hoping that I can get back on a weekly schedule since there are so many awesome projects that deserve […]
An interview with the director of the first-ever feature-length film in Quechua, spoken by many of the indigenous people of the South American Andes.
The Weekend Music break is here! Check out a round up of tunes and visuals that caught our ears and eyes at Africa is a Country headquarters this week! Kicking things off, AIAC contributor Blitz the Ambassador has a new video for his tune Juju Girl. French-Cuban Hip Hop Son twins Ibeyi are making their rounds […]
We head to Zimbabwe for the continuation of our Fresh Eyes series. Based in Bulawayo, KB Mpofu is a self-taught photographer who shoots portraits, fashion editorials and NGO work. With portraits in particular, the camera itself has a presence which heightens the intensity of the interplay between photographer and photographed. This is a delicate relationship to manage and […]
Uniting a region - the music of eleven countries - and overcoming ‘World Music’ cliches.
A review of a documentary film about the life of Albie Sachs, a noted antiapartheid activist and later Supreme Court Judge in postapartheid South Africa.
'Virunga' is an important film, even if it lacks perspectives from local stakeholders.
A general round-up of tunes that caught our ear this week at Africa is a Country, in no particular order. Martinique-born Jazz composer and pianist, Chassol returns home to film a Carnival-inspired video for his song “Reich & Darwin,” off of his album Big Sun. Here’s one for the DJs: UK-based Hagan is back with […]
Danny Mekonnen of Debo Band previews the Aputumpu Festival in Boston.
Nigeria has gotten a lot of attention on this platform in the past few weeks, with the publication of a new e-book the week prior to the election of Muhammadu Buhari over Goodluck Jonathan. I have been wanting to cover the Nigerian Nostalgia Project since Sean brought it to my attention a couple of months ago, […]
White Shadow, a feature film directed by Noaz Deshe and executive produced by the actor Ryan Gosling, tackles the persecution and killing of albinos, and the underground trade of their body parts for traditional medicine. This has long haunted Tanzania, a country that ironically has one of the highest percentages of albinism in the world. The film […]
A survey of African and Afro-Diasporic science fiction; stories that pushes the boundaries of the genre.
What we learn from the film “Concerning Violence,” about Franz Fanon’s writings and ideas
In this episode of 'Office Conversations,' a few of us break down the blurred lines between kwaito, an indigenous South African pop genre, and hip hop.
Johannesburg artists investigate power and its structures to interrogate the invisible forces that create them and to imagine alternatives.
Rendani Nemakavhani (alias Missblacdropp) is a Johannesburg-based graphic designer and illustrator who initiated the collaborative project 30 Days & A City featuring her work and that of eight fellow creators who live and work in the city of Johannesburg. We caught up with her during the exhibition opening to speak about what inspired her to […]
“Soldiers in Maiduguri, the embattled capital of Borno state, which has been under constant siege by Boko Haram, celebrate Nigeria’s election to music by Nigerian recording artist Davido” (via CCTV Africa): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIKH0IlBGdc CCTV Africa sites top African footballers like Emmanuel Adebayor (is he still around?) and Samuel Eto’o for popularizing Skelewu beyond its Nigerian base. […]
Boddhi Satva recently announced a very exciting collaboration between himself and international Zouk legend Kaysha. For those who are unfamiliar with the current African House movement, alongside names like Black Coffee, Osunlade, and DJ Djeff, Boddhi Satva has become one of the scene’s lead sonic innovators. His style is marked by ther merger of Central African drum patterns […]
Hisham Aidi’s book ‘Rebel Music' remixes race, faith, and geography
Keeping with the weekend’s theme, we’ve decided to resurrect the Weekend Music Break with number 68! For those who forgot (or who are new to the site), this is the place to highlight music that has caught our eye, or landed in our inboxes this week. Enjoy this edition’s selections in no particular order: First, the video for […]