Zimbabwe from A to Z
I is for Independence: That revolutionary moment when we as a new cowntry, ended our reliance on colonial governments for civil services, and instead, started relying on NGOs.
Culture
Double Time
We are back with the monthly chart of the “Top World Carnival Tunes” for March 2015. Enjoy this round of tunes, and remember to visit the HDD blog for all the great up-to-the-time-ness out of London. And browse the archive of our recommendations. Timaya x Sanko (Remix Feat Destra) Like all good things sometimes a little […]
Black President
Kudzanai Chiurai, the Zimbabwean-born South African artist known for his ironic commentaries on postcolonial politics, is the subject of a documentary film by BLK JKS guitarist Mpumelelo Mcata.
Playing cricket while Black
Black players are consistently reduced to their racial identities by the South African media.
Nigeria meets Brazil in the U.K.
Nigeria and Brazil have a long and intimate historical connection. Nigerian culture has provided a central reference point in the formation of many Afro-Brazilian cultural groups and religious beliefs. And Brazil has also made its mark in Nigeria throughout history. So it may come as little surprise that there continue to be strong cultural affinities between the two nations. […]
The FBI’s obsession with African-American Literature
The agency was the "most dedicated and influential critic" of black writers, with agents writing detailed analyses of authors they were spying on.
Tuareg Rock
The unexpected popularity of British rock band, Dire Straits, among North Africa's Tuareg communities.
Nakhane Toure’s Violent Streak
Nakhane Touré’s itching to make some noise. His acoustic guitar-strumming fingers are ready to shred some shrewd chords on the electric. He wants to scare sixteen year olds and piss off conservatives who use “authenticity” as a cubicle for their ignorance. He wants to forge forward, not so much a revolution, but a rebellion against […]
The Venice Hustle
How an Italian hotelier came to represent Kenya at the Venice Biennale.
Can a woman in hip hop speak on her own terms?
Burni Aman was a member of the all women Godessa hip hop group. Now she is embarking on a solo career. She is intend on speaking for herself.
The Queering Slavery Working Group
This tumblr focuses on reading, researching, and writing histories of intimacy, sex, and sexuality during Atlantic slave period.
Performing Society’s Provocations
Comedian Mpho "Popps" Modikoane is the spokesman of South Africa's "Born Frees."
Stirring the Spirits of the Dead Miners of Marikana
When the widows of Marikana tried to wake up their husbands from their graves by yelling at them.
Interview with Nidia Minaj: The multi-influenced teenage producer making noise in Lisbon’s vibrant Afro-electronic music scene
Anyone who has been paying attention to the global electronic dance music scene knows that there’s an explosion of musical creativity happening in the different Portuguese speaking ports around the Atlantic. Lisbon in particular has shown an impressive and diverse output of new Africa-influenced dance styles. The main live event celebrating that scene, Noite Principe — based at a club […]
Under the radar
Guinea Bissau’s Sana Na N’Hada is one of Africa’s most important filmmakers today.
Dear Grammy Awards: A Letter From a Colombian Musician
Pedro Ojeda is a Colombian musician, member of many influential bands, such as Los Pirañas, Romperayo, Ondatrópica and Chúpame El Dedo. Last year, the song “Universos Paralelos” by the Uruguayan Jorge Drexler and the Chilean Ana Tijoux, was awarded a Latin Grammy as “record of the year.” Recently, Ojeda received a diploma from the Grammys for […]
Between Magic and Reality
On Otavalo, the largest outdoor indigenous market in South America.
Tomorrow is the Question
Afrofuturism and engaging prophetically with history.
Like a weary protest song that has been marching since the 1960’s
Kae Sun, who we’ve featured on this site before, has just released a new single. With an organ vamp that registers like an extended Prince intro, the interrogative lament wanders over handclaps, and rolling snare drums to give the feel of a weary protest song that has been marching since the 1960’s. Fittingly, the song is called “l o n g […]
A glimpse of what could have been
The fantastical texture of the everyday in E. C. Osondu’s novel, "This House is Not for Sale."