Ponte City
The 54-storey building in Johannesburg, built in the 1970s, is the tallest residential building on the continent, and subject of a new photobook.
Culture
To be an artist in Egypt right now
An Egyptian theater company puts on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables in colloquial Arabic. The choice was no error.
New Photography Book Depicts the South African Social Landscape
Between 2012 and 2013, an exercise took place known as the France South Africa Season. This bilateral initiative was aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries. In 2012 South Africa hosted France for a wide range of activities and vice versa in 2013. The activities took place in different areas of each country, covering […]
The Rediscovery of William Onyeabor
The continued relevance or irrelevance of a musical figure to an African audience doesn't factor into that figure's "rediscovery" outside the continent.
Lagos in the Red
A short documentary film on the Lagos, Nigeria, performance artist Jelili Atiku.
Cape Town Gangster Films
If you wish to gain some insight into the turmoil of gangland Cape Town, it's worth starting with the films of Riaan Hendricks and Dylan Valley.
Eastern Highlands
This Weekend Music Break features a number of strong women performers: Nosiwe, Rina Mushonga, Alicious Theluji, and the 95 year old Tututa Evora, who just passed away.
When Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie met Sweden
Sweden is a country living under the illusion of a special kind of exceptionalism, including that it is “less affected by postcolonial relations than other nations.”
Stories that will Remain in Darkness
The shortcomings of the film "Shado'man," a documentary about Freetown, Sierra Leone's handicapped 'street boys.'
What we don’t talk about when we spend time learning about Lupita Nyong’o’s family and getting her name right
I just couldn’t help myself. I had to write a follow-up post in response to “How To Say Lupita Nyong’o.” While I think the post is interesting and I liked that all the clips are available to see the repeated mispronunciation of Lupita Nyong’o’s surname, these clips got me riled up for many other and rather […]
Born Free Films
Amazwi Wethu in Cape Town, South Africa, teaches its high student members how to advocate for themselves through film and photography.
How to say Lupita Nyong’o
At the moment, everyone seems to be obsessed with the stunning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o. And for good reason. Her heart-wrenching performance in the film 12 Years a Slave has won her critical acclaim, while her humility and beauty have won countless hearts. She’s been on most major talk shows and is lighting up every magazine cover possible. Yet for all the attention, many people just can’t say her name properly. Quite a few don’t even seem to care enough to try. With the Oscars just weeks away, please do your research, stretch your tongue and practice saying Lupita’s name. After all the butcherings of her name, Lupita posted a video on instagram of herself to guide you with the pronunciation, even saying it an American accent. Look out for that soft “g”.
When Little Steven got Paul Simon’s name off a hit list
The making of Paul Simon's "Graceland" album was controversial. But it seems we didn't know the half of it if Steven Van Zandt is to be believed.
Low Country Screens
A ton of new films by African filmmakers or with African themes are screening at the 2014 edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Don’t tell anyone
New music videos from Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon, Mali, Congo, and Ghana, make up Weekend Music Break Number 66.
How to come out as an African
When Binyavanga Wainaina, came out as gay recently, he wanted that news to appear in African-owned media and not be misrepresented in Euro-American media.
Fokn Bois in a Dutch village
It is not clear what Ghanaian duo Fokn Bois, on tour in the Netherlands, was doing visiting a boring Dutch town, Liesbeth. But it turned out to be fun.
Why I’m not an Afropolitan
The problem with Afropolitism is that the insights on race, modernity and identity appear to be increasingly sidelined in sacrifice to consumerism above all else.
The troubled border of the colonial and postcolonial
Jean-Marie Teno's film, 'Une Feuille dans le Vent' (A Leaf in the Wind), lays bare the affective costs of public silence in Cameroon.
I am a homosexual, mum
The writer imagines coming out to his late mother.