The Encyclopedia of South Africa
One of the first authoritative, comprehensive reference work covering South Africa’s history, politics, law, society and
Culture
Keep Africa Alive
Should our contributor Sonja Sugira, usually a harsh critic of humanitarianism, cut Bono's RED campaign some slack?
Bono did something right
You know we give Bono a lot of grief on this site, but in this commercial
'Something to Believe'
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/9002801 w=500&h=281] Rapper Blitz the Ambassador (representing for the Ghanaian diaspora and Brooklyn), featuring Tess, who
Fresh hiphop funk from Cameroon
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUEvngFue8&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Via Mustafa Maluka
Vroom. Vroom
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhrgnCAydu4&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Your parents’ Congolese music–like it needs the jolt–gets the dance music treatment from the kids,
Renunciation and redemption
The deadly serious games of J M Coetzee's novel about the transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa, 'Disgrace.'
The Unofficial World Cup Song?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM_Ew6zsnDY&w=500&h=307&rel=0] Is this playful ode to coloured identity,* becoming the unofficial World Cup anthem? Apparently South
Flavor of the Month
The UK Observer, despite its best attempts, does not have its finger on the pulse of the South African literary scene. The World Cup didn't help.
African Hospitality
The artist Andrew Putter make use of the past to construct images of how we might live together in the future.
Nas and Damian Marley channel Amadou and Mariam
“Patience,” another track of the much anticipated “Distant Relatives” project. Nas and Damian Marley channels Amadou
Friday Music: Jalin Rose
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/10881896 w=500&h=281] Love this video and rapper Jalin Rose‘s flow. The sample is off Ski’s “24
Paul Sika, "Andy Warhol’s grandson"
The very talented Ivorian artist Paul Sika (I’ve linked to Paul’s work last year on my
The Lost Bushmen
It is still okay to create the most objectionable stereotypes about certain Africans and for it to be considered fine. This time: India.
Film: Filip De Boeck's "Cemetery State"
The Belgian anthropologist Filip De Boeck (remember his excellent “Kinshasa: Tales of the Invisible City“) recently
Video: Interview with artist Thando Mama
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GWdGfKXK3U&w=500&h=307] A 9-minute excerpt from a new short video documentary (20 minutes in all) about the
Bok van Blerk’s Darkest Africa
Bok van Blerk's new music video mines familiar racist tropes of starving, diseased children in a war-torn African country saved by a blonde heroine and her white male companion.
The Idea of Africa
Singer Rokia Traoré speaking truth to The Times of London: “… Some Europeans who love Africa
Viral Culture: Matt’s dance
A brand of football trickery and showmanship have only reaped bad results on the field for South African teams, but is also a great dance.
'Ya'll feel me even if it's in Swahili'*
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcY34CGzj20&w=500&h=295] The official video for the Nas-Damian Marley’s single, “As We Enter” off “The Distant Relatives”