Aimé Césaire on Europe
"At the end of capitalism, which is eager to outlive its day, there is Hitler. At the end of formal humanism and philosophic renunciation, there is Hitler."
Politics
Instagramming Africa
An interview with Peter DiCampo and Austin Merrill, founders of the Instagram project, Everyday Africa.
#WhiteHistoryMonth
Every February here schools, McDonald’s, television, corporations, the advertising industry, celebrate Black History Month. The whole thing is a charade. That black people don’t get a break from police brutality, red lining, profiling or plain neglect, doesn’t matter. In 20o7, Gary Younge (he is an ally) suggested that what we needed was a White History Month. So, dear readers–in the service of good sense, this year March is the inaugural White History Month on Africa is a Country. Yes, we’re a few days late, we know, but good things take time sometime. Stay tuned.
Finding the Afro- in Brazil
Last week I wrote a post about my excitement around the African musical permutations I was hearing this year in Trinidad’s Carnival. Since this week I was in Brazil for my first Carnaval Carioca, I wanted to also write about my experiences seeking out similar connections as a newcomer to this country. It’s no secret that […]
Cape Town Pride’s Race Card
What happens when a corporate model of Pride is used to homogenize and silence those without privilege and power?
Cape Town’s Pretend Partnership
Cape Town's goals: designing a more tourist-friendly European City, while keeping the unwanted and unsightly on the other side of the mountain.
The passport that does not pass ports
The story of African migrants entering the Eurozone by sea is basically indecipherable as it is told in global and national media reports, because they are described only as helpless victims.
Africa is more queerer than you think
Both in and outside of Africa, there is an argumentative frenzy around the instability of gender and sex and non-conforming performances of gender.
The other news from Uganda this week
Here’s the `other’ news from Uganda this week. Dateline: Kampala: “Police have warned the public against undressing women whom they perceive to be indecently dressed, saying the Anti-Pornography law is not operational yet.” Yet.
Bloomberg’s welfare addiction
Bloomberg Africa evokes Ronald Reagan's "welfare queen" stereotype for poor South Africans.
The Congolization Movement
Creating spaces where artists related to the Congolese diaspora can freely tell their side of the story.
The vulgarity of homophobic thinking
The writer, Chimamanda Adichie, lines up the homophobic arguments against rights for gay people and knocks them down one by one.
Are Nigerians the New Asians?
Amy Chua's racist nonsense about "model minorities," peddling the lie that elites are on top because they're better.
Going to the Mall in Brazil
Since last December, Brazilian shopping malls have become the stage for a new style of youth gathering: the rolezinho. Roughly translated as “little excursions” or outings, the rolezinhos can be characterized as planned meetings (via social network) of a large group of youth from poor neighborhoods, with the intent of seeing each other, flirting, eating and drinking at McDonald’s, taking pictures to post on Facebook, and simply having fun.
Did I ever tell you about that time a guy followed me in the NYC subway and offered me $40 to touch my leg?
Real talk: Who else is tired of gender/race swapping to make a point about racism/sexism? I know I am, especially about gender swapping. I’m not sure it makes much of a point to men about male privilege or male sexual entitlement. As a black, queer, mostly masculine, cisgender, middle-class man, I love it when I’m […]
How to deal with uncomfortable journalists
If a journalist reports on the unsavory parts of Nigeria, attack them on Twitter. For reporting while white. There's no comeback when you bring race into it.
The #BullshitFiles: Tsunami and the Single Girl — One Woman’s Journey to Become an Aid Worker and Find Love
Every side-eye, cringe, SMH and WTF in the world has gathered for a family reunion in the title of this book. It is the perfect set-up for searing satire, which is what I hoped was on offer when I clicked the link forwarded by my sister with a “hahahahahahaha” subject line – although she did mention […]
The clamor for a ‘credible opposition’ in South Africa?
William Gumede, who wrote a book about the ANC, makes a strange and careless argument--without recourse to evidence--about the ruling party's fortunes.
The Question of International Aid
How a documentary about a radio station provides a window into aid policy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The day South African news media ate crow
How South Africa's media report on the doings within the official parliamentary opposition, the Democratic Alliance.