SCI-CULTURA

• AfriPhotography::The 2 Andrews

  Posted: September 30, 2008, 2:23 am by sci-culturist

  Esiebo Dosunmu I remember reading an article in the late 90’s that suggested there was a boom in the naming of baby boys Michael, as inspired by the legends Mr Jordan, Mr Jackson, Mr Johnson and Mr Tyson (in no particular order). I am tempted to suggest the same should be so for Andrew, although the [...]

• DRC::Fighting the Silence

  Posted: September 23, 2008, 7:51 pm by sci-culturist

  More than 80,000 women and girls were raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the war that raged there in the late 1990’s. A taboo subject in the Congo, as in many countries, victims were often shunned by their families and communities. As a result, rape has now become not just a weapon of [...]

• Nigeria::Osun-Osogbo Festival Sponsorship

  Posted: September 19, 2008, 11:04 pm by sci-culturist

  The annual Osun-Osogbo festival in Nigeria has been and gone, but it is inevitable that next year will bring the recurring topic of corporate sponsorship and its increasingly larger role in this 600 year old ritual that pays homage to the Yoruba Orisha (Goddess) of the Osun River. One of the sponsors, the phone company MTN [...]

• Western Medicine::Traditional African Medicine

  Posted: September 19, 2008, 9:01 pm by sci-culturist

  I’m not usually a fan of reality TV, especially when depicting indigenous people, and I have ranted about it before. Channel 4’s Medicine Men Go Wild - I can’t tell you enough how the title irked me and what I think the insinuations are in this context, but that’s worthy of a separate post – included an [...]

• Feel the Beat

  Posted: September 14, 2008, 3:49 pm by sci-culturist

  
  

  The sabar dance from Senegal which has traditionally been a female dance and an overt expression of female sexuality (notably paradoxically in an Islamic country) to a cacophony of uplifting, energising sabar drum beats has evolved into multiple forms through its organic transformation by men into a dance for them as well, and now features in music videos and contemporary African dance schools. Here’s an informative excerpt from anthropologist Sophie Schouwenaar’s thesis (via Roots & Wings Movement). The actual sabar dancing doesn’t start until 03:53 but it’s well worth the wait and meanwhile gives background on the dance, drums and community.

  It reminded me (in a round about way) of an article I saw on the Boboraba (Djoula for ‘big bottom’) dance craze in Côte d’Ivoire , which as the name suggests is in praise of a large derriere and reportedly created business in the cosmetic industry by targeting gullible women. An elaborate account on the female posterior in popular culture, inspired by the same article is available on T’ings n’ Times. But just so you know what I am referring to, here’s the Boboraba music video by DJ Mix and DJ Eloh. For me, it’s reminiscent of ndombolo from the Democratic Republic of Congo. As you can probably already guess, it’s not safe for work (NSFW).

• Western Sahara Blues::Tiris

  Posted: September 13, 2008, 1:05 am by sci-culturist

  Tiris are certainly doing their bit for putting Western Sahara on the map. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Singing in Hassaniya, their sound is distinctive and carries unmistakably Arab and even Spanish flamenco influences - a reflection of Western Sahara’s colonial history. Listening to this fills me with a formidable sense of awe at what an [...]

• Africanized Simpsons::Why?

  Posted: September 8, 2008, 2:46 am by sci-culturist

  Ok, so The Simpsons are not new to controversy and are possibly in competition with Family Guy as the most unPC and dysfunctional family on tv. But this image of the Africanized Simpsons (hat tip White African) made me feel uncomfortable and I started to reflect on this as an image for Africa. The chicken and [...]

• Chad in Film::Abouna

  Posted: September 7, 2008, 11:46 pm by sci-culturist

  This is one of those films that I can watch over and over again. More so on a grey, chilly Sunday afternoon. It’s not often that you hear of Chad in an artistic context, less so in film. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s film, Abouna (Our Father) is a captivating piece of visual poetry, with an enchanting soundtrack by [...]

• Africhic Modahnik

  Posted: September 6, 2008, 12:54 pm by sci-culturist

    If you are in the Chicago area, do check out this up and coming designer label, by Afropolitan in the true sense of the word, Kahindo Mateene. For the sharp ones, you’ll  already have spotted the anagram from her name and first letter of her surname, which incorporates the rather clever use of the Italian word for [...]

• Fela!

  Posted: September 5, 2008, 10:05 pm by sci-culturist

  
  

  
  It’s all the rage and understandably so - the man is a legend and has been a source of inspiration to many, musically and politically. I am not usually a fan of musicals, but this one, I would have LOVED to see and inevitably dance to. Here’s a gold star review in the NY Times (via Africa is a country) of the translation by award winning choreographer and director, Bill T Jones (noteworthy interview above) and the numerous people who bring the late great Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his afrobeat band to life including actor Sahr Ngaujah and Brooklyn band Antibalas in the Lagos club, The Shrine. Details on dates and location here. Anyone who’s seen it, feel free to share your review and make me go green with envy :)

• Africans in France Sans Papiers

  Posted: September 2, 2008, 6:42 pm by sci-culturist

  
  

  An interesting read in the Guardian today that gives a laudable account of Parisian photographer Fabien Breuvart, who in show of solidarity with hard working, tax-paying but non-social-benefits-claiming illegal African immigrants a.k.a sans papiers (without papers) has taken hundreds of photos (500+ and counting) of these workers alongside documented members of the public. The body of work is entitled Vas-y, montre ta carte! (Go on, show your card!) and carries a clear message: ‘the only difference between these two people is a piece of paper’.

  See the article for more of Breuvart’s photos and details on Sarkozy-son-of-an-immigrant’s tough immigration policies that have allegedly resulted in an 80% increase of deportations of the sans-papiers since last year. The article also contains personal accounts of interviewees that reflect France’s colonial history - Algeria, Ivory Coast and Mali. Apparently the French mantra liberté, equalité et fraternité does not apply to the sans-papiers. Domage.

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes