African Food is Delicious, So Why Don’t We See More of It in Major Cities?
African cuisine has historically struggled to gain a foothold outside of the continent, but evidence points to growing interest across the globe. Evolving attitudes about Africa, the explosion of the Internet, and the advent of African celebrity chefs have all contributed to changing perceptions and whetting appetites. Cosmopolitan cities like New York, London, and Toronto […]
Beauty, Ugliness, and Power in African Art at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
A recently concluded exhibit at Fort Worth’s Kimbell Art Museum focused on African art from the perspective of its makers. Originating at the Art Institute of Chicago, the show presented traditional works not from the viewpoint of the colonizers who collected it, but via the standards of beauty, ugliness and power espoused by those who […]
Paying Homage to Ramily, the Father of Black and White Photography in Madagascar
Known as Madagascar’s father of black and white photography, Emile Rakotondrazaka, known affectionately as “Ramily,” captured the natural beauty of the island during the transition from French colonial rule to independence. His black and white portraits of nature and people used shadow and movement to convey emotion and depict the moods of this challenging time […]
Ugandan Designer Bobby Kolade is Resisting the Secondhand Clothing Trade
After honing his craft with some major fashion brands in Europe, designer Bobby Kolade decided to return to his native Uganda to launch his own brand there. What he found was a local fashion industry devastated due to imports of cheap, secondhand clothing from abroad. In the 1970s, Uganda was producing 84,000 tons of cotton […]
The Devil Went Down to Gambia! The Surprising History of African Country Music
Country music is having a surge in popularity across the globe, and some of its biggest fans are in Africa. Despite its association with rural whiteness, it has always resonated with Africans, likely due in part to the genre’s being rooted in many African musical traditions. Country music has borrowed heavily from Black sources since […]
Covid-19: Scientists Warn That It’s Not Over Till It’s Over
By Fawzia Moodley After two years of economic and social upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including South Africa, have lifted the tough protocols such as lockdowns, the mandatory wearing of masks and social distancing. COVID fatigue, the global economic bloodbath, devastating social and mental health impacts, and the hope that large-scale vaccinations provided […]
