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Interim South African President Kgalema Motlanthe’s announcement that general elections would take place on April 22nd released a rush of anxiety across the nation with the largest economy on the continent of Africa. For the first time since Nelson Mandela took office following the fall of apartheid there will be a transfer of power from one political party to another in South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC), the party that dominated the country’s liberation struggle, will officially cede a portion of its political power to the African National Congress, a divided party whose future is uncertain. Though the shift in power is more figurative than literal the primary point is clear—For South Africa a new, if not particularly bright, day is on the horizon.
The infra war-fare that has weakened the seemingly indestructible ANC had been a slow burn until Jacob Zuma, the former Deputy Minister challenged President Thabo Mbeki for party leadership. Then what had been the growing murmur of internal dissension ruptured into all out civil struggle. continue
Rest In Peace Mr. John Hope Franklin. Thank you for everything. |
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| welcome to nat creole 2.0 you're right on time. |
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+ exhibition. in the city and beyond
bamako. 7th african photography meeting
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+ interview. rise of dancehall culture
beth lesser | author. photographer
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| With the title In the City and Beyond most of the seventh Rencontres Africaines de la Photographie de Bamako centres on the theme of the urban phenomenon. The urban phenomenon rather than the city because, over and beyond the usual reductive views that see cities as material, functional structures and devices more |
"King Jammy was a product of King Tubby, probably the most important name that was able to influence the whole of reggae music. I mean Lee Perry was influential as well, but Tubby was able to reach into all parts of reggae. Jammy was able to take all of the things he had learned with Tubby and build a sound that dominated throughout the '80s." more |
+ diary. kulu mele dance troupe in guinea
clare croft
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+ excerpt. impossible man
michael muhammad knight
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Sometimes you have to go to the source. In this spirit, Philadelphia-based dance company Kulu Mele traveled to Conakry, Guinea, to learn the African ballet, Mali Sadio. Kulu Mele has performed dance and music from the African Diaspora for over forty years, but Mali Sadio marks the company’s first foray into a full-length African ballet more
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The bodies had once been followers of the Reverend Jim Jones at his Jonestown commune in Guyana. They used to call him “Dad.” When he gave the order, they lined up to drink poisoned Kool-Aid and kill themselves in turn: first the children, then the elderly followers, then everyone else. more |
+ travel essay. steps to machu picchu
brook stephenson
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+ exhibition. ©MURAKAMI
guggenheim bilbao
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| The hike was part wonder, part pilgrimage, part test of will, part test of elements, part silence, part reflection, part awe and major part humility. It was respect and reverence wrapped up in the sheer massiveness of nature via the Andes mountain range. From the green hillsides to the snow capped peaks, to the valleys, waterfalls, and rivers and winding throughout it all are the Inca Trail and the Incan ruins we experienced along the way. more
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In an art world that often seems to inexplicably pit imagination versus creativity, ideas that pop in the mind's eye often fall flaccid in the glare of gallery lights leaving the most directed of artists dazed and confused. Then there is Murakami. Long before Kanye West borrowed some of the artist's visual alchemy in his quest to project futuristic afro-hipness more |
+ video. the shifting american flag
ariana jones
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+ respect. ali: king of the world
phillip harvey |
| The American flag serves as a very effective symbol of Americana. It encompasses all facets of American life from the social to the political, and is an exemplary tool for the Black artists commentary on Blackness within America. more |
According to lore, Muhammad Ali was seated at one end of an extraordinarily long banquet table. At the other end of the table sat Idi Amin who stared impassively at Ali from behind the barrel of a gun. more |
+ video. 50th anniversary celebration
kind of blue | giant steps |
+ profile. sarah tavares
musician. singer. songrwriter |
Once upon a time, there were giants that walked the earth. Often they carried musical instruments with them and would use them to communicate beautiful, wonderful things to the world. The best of them would take it upon themselves to be the gatherer of such giants. They would become the giants of giants. more
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Multilingual wordplay shows up throughout Tavares’ work, and she hops across cultural references as much as she embraces any. Tavares’ sweet voice and gentle arrangements communicate their meaning even if you cannot understand all of the lyrics. more
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+ profile. iranian documentary film festival kourosh ziabari |
+ profile. north country institute
ahmad wright |
The second edition of Iran's International Documentary Films Festival (Cinema Verite), which is the most prominent film festival of the Persian Gulf region, adjourned recently in Tehran by announcing the winners of its national and international sections. more
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The North Country Institute for Writers of Color (NCI), a collaboration between the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College; the English department at SUNY, Plattsburgh; and the Paden Institute for Writers of Color, sponsored its fifth writing workshop and retreat (the second in Brooklyn) at Medgar Evers College this year. more |
+ editor's note. south africa
phillip harvey |
+ headknot
new and improved music source |
| The infra war-fare that has weakened the seemingly indestructible ANC had been a slow burn until Jacob Zuma, the former Deputy Minister challenged President Thabo Mbeki for party leadership. Then what had been the growing murmur of internal dissension ruptured into all out civil struggle. more |
Jack DeJohnette
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Tommy Olivencia
Jackie Mittoo
more
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