Democracy in Dakar
This is not exactly a brand new newsflash, but if you haven’t seen this, it’s way time. Hip hop activists unite!!
Gift idea: Gentlemen of Bakongo
You may have seen photo galleries of the Sapeurs of Brazzaville sprouting up online. The photos are most likely taken from this very entertaining book released earlier this year. Just under $30 at Amazon
or Barnes & Nobles.
Gift idea: Contemporary African art
Nandipha Mntambo, “Europa,” 2008
Samuel Fosso, “Le Pirate” (1997)
Chéri Samba, aka Samba wa Mbimba N’zingo Nuni Masi Ndo Mbasi, “Les Pantalons sont Defendus”
Yinka Shonibare, “The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Africa),” (2009)
Great new book: Contemporary African Art Since 1980 – Buy it for just under $40 at Amazon
Killamu: 10 years of kuduro in Angola
Akwaaba meets Killamu in front of his home and studio in Luanda, Angola. Killamu’s been making kuduro beats for close to a decade, and explains the stories and realities of kuduro in Angola today. We highly recommend you watch the video in HD on Vimeo!
Enjoy the tease, Killamu’s full length album comes out January 12, 2010. If you haven’t already, go download Killamu’s song Flaminguinho right here for free.
Le Hogon in Bamako
Here’s an interesting article about Le Hogon, one of Bamako, Mali’s prime spots for live music. We heard Toumani Diabaté perform there in April 2008, and… are eager to return asap. Except we were told it closed down, any tips on other good music venues in Bamako?
Galliano & kuduro
Awesome, AWESOME mix of early (earlier?) kuduro, by Galliano, the first western dood we knew to push kuduro back in 2005 – 2006. If you read French, this interview is very interesting, it’s nice to see someone speak openly, even if it might piss people off. And it will ;p
[audio:http://www.tsugi.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1029&Itemid=49]Galliano with Tony Amado, grandfather of kuduro:
And here’s the video that made us fall in love with kuduro: