Ghanaian film posters and viewing cultures
The posters are tied to the Ghanaian and Nollywood film industries that emerged in the late 1980s.
Nigeria
This sea shall be uprooted
Makoko, in Lagos, with over 100, 000 residents, is viewed as a shantytown. There’s more to it. This is the destruction of a community.
Chop Cassava
Five filmmaking collectives from the African continent that are reinterpreting and reinvigorating notions of collaboration and distribution.
Independence Day Edition: What’s more ‘American’ than Chevron Corporation?
July 4. U.S. Day of Independence. What’s more ‘American’ than … Chevron Corporation? It’s pretty much always in the top 5 of U.S. based corporations. It’s deeply involved with everything having anything to do with energy or power. Oil, gas, geothermal. You name it, Chevron’s there, but not like a good neighbor. It’s got history, […]
Pieter Hugo on ‘political correctness’
Pieter Hugo, the critically acclaimed South African photographer, has done an interview with Guernica (H/T Glenna Gordon) in which he seems to be taking issue with criticisms of his work, especially the “Nollywood” series: “It’s quite scary when academics start dictating to artists that they should be politically correct or follow certain rules of behavior — which means […]
Akin Omotoso’s Country
A recurring theme in director Akin Omotoso's films is the fraught postapartheid relationship between Nigerian migrants and their South African hosts.
Coca-Cola can’t copyright colour: the art of Sokari Douglas Camp
“Coca-Cola Bird” stands facing the corner of the gallery, half-turned towards us in surprise or exhibition, oily red paint spun across the bucket cocked over her head, the same brash color on the feathered tutu winding around her waist. Her chest sprouts sparkling empty bottles bearing the famous label, and familiar labile curves.
Acoustic Guitar Break
We thought it would be nice to compile a Bonus Music Break centered on acoustic guitar music. First up is Toronto-based Ghanaian Kae Sun with “Lion on a Leash”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8d7AyRkDSs
An Ode to Oshodi Market
Old Oshodi highlighted the complexity of the city, showcasing the ingenuity of the people of Lagos in their use of the informal market in making a living.
Shell brought me here
A BBC reporter visits the old fields of southeast Nigeria, the site of massive exploitation by Shell Oil--in a helicopter provided by Shell.
The 19th New York African Film Festival: “Relentless”
“Relentless” is fundamentally a film about Lagos. About how director Andy Okoarafor sees it. In Okoarafor’s rendering, Lagos is a hard, inhospitable city, where people look stressed out, always hustling. They’re always on the move. But Okoarafor also has loves this city.
The shareholders of Jesus Inc.
God is the fastest-growing business in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. It may be time we agitate for our governments to raise taxes on these corporations.
Nothing To Lose? The Art of Rotimi Fani-Kayode
The artist recognized early on that his sexuality constituted an obstacle between himself and his Nigerian background.
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°4
Five for the weekend. I haven’t done this in a while. First up Philadelphians Chill Moody (rapper) and Cody Kahmar with the music video for “My Eyes”:
New films roundup N°1
My latest list of new African films or films with African topics. From now on I’ll start numbering them. So this is N°1. This list include “The Ambassador,” a Western set in Namibia, a sort of sequal to “eLollipop” and a documentary about Kenya’s version of “America’s Best Dance Crew.”
Music Break. Kefee & Becca
Kefee (from Nigeria) and Becca (from Ghana) bring their version of ‘Dan Maliyo’. Pop and play as we like it.
Plenty Koko
We didn’t expect anything else: the video for FOKN Bois “Sexin Islamic Girls” goes all the way. March 6 is Ghana’s Independence Day—which means we have an excuse to post it.
Football: The 11 Commandments of Rigobert Song
When the good Lord handed down the Decalogue to Moses atop Mount Sinai, he limited himself to just the ten commandments. The new boss of Cameroon’s national football team, Rigobert Song, is obviously more demanding.
Nigeria Fashion Week
Probably to coincide with New York Fashion Week, Vice released the Nigerian installment of its “Fashion International” series. It’s not bad considering how Vice usually treats Africa (reference: Congo, Liberia and Ghana) and it definitely captures some of the energy of Nigeria. But it can’t help itself. We’re barely a minute into Vice’s report (“looking […]