Africa is a Country

9th
November

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Le Franschhoek (Western Cape) … ‘nuff said

1st
November

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Sathima Bea Benjamin, South African born Jazz singer

12th
September

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Cedric Nunn: Story of a photograph

6th
September

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Hugh Masekela

6th
June

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thesmithian:

…plans have been announced for a tower that by 2018 could catapult Africa into the world’s skyscraper big league. The structure, part of a development known as Centurion Symbio-City, will soar to 447 metres, or 110 storeys, more than double the Carlton Centre—and higher than the Empire State Building. It would become the 14th-tallest freestanding structure on the planet.

more.

24th
May

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”Nhlanhla Yika” (2011) from Sabelo Mlangeni’s Black Men in Dress.
Excerpt from AIAC post by T.J. Tallie and Maria Hengeveld:

This week BBC News reported on the rise in Cape Town’s status as a premiere international gay tourist destination. The article itself went on to report at length from gay South African hoteliers and organizers, many of whom lavished praise on the progressivism enshrined in the country’s constitution, and the comparative sense of freedom that South Africa in general (and Cape Town in particular) provided for LGBT-identified people. While it is undeniable that South Africa can boast one of the most inclusive constitutions in the world, particularly in regard to protecting the rights of those with different sexual orientations, the BBC article and much of the rhetoric surrounding ‘Cape Town as gay paradise’ obscures far more complex realities. To begin with, the BBC begins with an utterly terrible opening line: “There is arguably no worse place in the world to be gay than Africa.” Oh God. First, the article begins with a depiction of Africa as monolithic and homophobic—only to then present South Africa as the great hope for gays and lesbians in the homogenously-rendered continent. This is both problematic and somewhat irresponsible. Taken as a large bloc, yes, there is certainly a troubling history of institutional homophobia throughout much of the continent, but to posit that Africa (as a magical unit) is the singularly worst place to be gay is dangerously totalizing. Such a linguistic move obscures realities throughout much of the Middle East and Eastern Europe for men and women that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. It also conveniently forgets new developments, like Malawian President Joyce Banda’s new announcement to work to decriminalize homosexuality. Finally, the opening statement situates Africa as uniquely homophobic and particularly awful—thereby falling neatly into contemporary Western discourse on the continent.

(Read the full post, Pinkwashing South Africa, here)

24th
May

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Photo by Anton Kannemeyer, from his solo exhibition, “Paintings and Prints for Doctors and Dentists,” at the Stevenson in Johannesburg.

22nd
May

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via Malibongwe Tyilo /SkattieWhatAreYouWearing

17th
May

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16th
May

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Zanele Muholi, Katiego Mashiloane and Nosipho Lavuta, Ext. 2, Lakeside, Johannesburg 2007
(Autograph)

11th
May

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The issue [of xenophobia] is bigger than South Africa, I think that the temperature in the world right now is about exclusion and I feel we need to work towards better societies.

- Akin Omotoso’s response to being asked what the inspiration was for his upcoming film, Man on Ground.
(Photo via Talk Media Nigeria)