There are no laws against photography
The latest in a series of interviews by Roxsanne Dyssel. This time, with Egyptian photographer and blogger, Mohamed Elshahed.
Culture
There’s more to Angolan music than Kuduro
it’s underwhelming that despite its rich musical tradition, Angolan music is mostly known for a genre that roughly translates to "hard ass."
The subversion of Nollywood cinema
Zina Saro Wiwa wants Nigerian film to break out of its Nollywood straightjacket. She is trying it with her film, "Phyllis."
Spiritual guitar music
A post that takes a warm, nostalgic trip through an aspect of West Africa's rich musical heritage: Nigerian highlife.
The Music of Bell Atlas
One of my current favorite bands–haven’t seen them play live yet; they’re out West–is Bell Atlas. That the lead singer Sandra Lawson is a distant relative of late Nigerian legend Rex Lawson (he is a distant cousin of her mother) and of another highlife legend, Erasmus Jenewari, may be part of it. But Sandra’s talent […]
Do African filmmakers care for FESPACO?
Filmmakers who use digital technology hope FESPACO catches up to the times. Meanwhile, this year the festival attempts to right its gender imbalances.
A way out of this miasma
A film about four African artists in Toronto, challenges stereotypes about Africans in Canada's media capital.
A state of cultural flux
Andrew Dosunmu's new feature film, "Mother of George," is set in Brooklyn, NY’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood, focusing on the complications of African immigrant life, especially love and family.
Weekend Music Break, N°33
Let’s start with two club tracks. It’s Friday after all. Above is a collaboration between Boddhi Satva (from the Central African Republic) and Oumou Sangaré (from Mali) who together recorded this video in Bamako. You could dance to it. And a re-edit of the video for London trio LV’s (with help from South African Okmalumkoolkat) […]
Ghanaian Spiderman and Other Stories
No.17 in our regular update on new African films to watch.
Vincent Moon’s Portraits of Ethiopian Music
Post by Addis Rumble * “Ethiopia is an island,” Vincent Moon explains. The French filmmaker has been on the road for four years now travelling and filming music and spiritual rituals across the globe and releasing them through his Petites Planètes label. 2012 saw him spending three months in Ethiopia exploring and recording Easter in Gonder […]
South African Hip-Hop needs more artists like Molemi
A harp hard-panned to either side of the speakers constantly loops while a flute sample pulsates in lock-step with the reverb-drenched hi-hats sounding off on every fourth beat. The drums kick in; snare; bassline. Suddenly the listener is placed squarely in Mo’Molemi’s (real name Molemi Morule) territory, arguably one of the most revolutionary rappers in […]
Another White Hero Story
We've seen CNN's "Mozambique or Bust" documentary film before. It's a staple of its genre.
There is more to my life than making photographs
In our series of interviews with young artists and creatives continue: This week's guest: photographer and blogger, Nana Kofi Acquah.
The loss of “new” South African innocence
Moses Molelekwa, the brilliant South African pianist, composer and producer died by suicide on 13 February 2001. Florence Mtoba, his wife (also his manager) was found with him; she had been strangled.
When Kim Kardashian ‘419ed the 419ers’
The Lagos elite blows money at puffery, while most of Nigeria suffers. It’s the same as it ever was.
Cape Town goes Electronic
This weekend marks the 2nd year of the Cape Town Electronic Music Festival, an event that seeks to present the “multi facets of South Africa’s electronic music scene” with a weekend of performances and workshops. Judging from the promo video (below), the festival seems to be punting diversity and breaking down racial barriers under the […]
Capitalizing On a Violent Heritage
The politics of selling African art mostly collected during colonial era to private collectors.
The spirit of Ethiopian culture
Roxsanne Dyssell's second in a series of interviews with young artists and creatives: Next: creative director and photoblogger,Metasebia Yoseph
Future Radioheads
The Children’s Radio Foundation, which trains young radio reporters, invited pop musician Colin Greenwood to South Africa. Would the trip break with celebrity conventions?