Sean Jacobs's Blog, page 686

Music Break

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Late last year, jazz saxophonist James Moody passed away. Here's Moody in 1989–live with Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra–doing the tune mostly associated with his career, "Moody Mood for Love." And if you want to know how the song came about, watch and listen here.

"Wow, Africans on skateboards, so cool"

Yan Gross, the Swiss photographer and skateboarder–in an interview with South African journalist, Sean O'Toole, in Frieze (January/February 2011)–mocking the reaction of journalists, photographers and filmmakers, who flocked to Kampala, Uganda, after his self-published photoseries of a small group of local skateboarders, gained attention outside Uganda. "It was hard to deal with all these people. The suburb wasn't meant to become a touristic place or a zoo."

Source.

Na Wewe*

Ivan Goldschmidt's Na Wewe has been nominated for this year's Academy Award Short Films.

"1994: There is civil war in Burundi, a small country of Central Africa directly bordering Rwanda. A near genocidal confrontation opposes rebels mainly composed of ethnic Hutus and a national army with a majority of Tutsis."

Fragment:

* "You too" in Kirundi.

- Tom Devriendt

Who Cares About Tunisia

From Jacob Mundy:

Search of Nexis UK for the terms "Tunisian dictator" and "Ben Ali" all available dates before 14 January 2011 (All News, All Languages).

Results: 4.

Same search parameters but after 14 January 2011.

Results: 158.

As French journalist Serge Halimi reminds us–in Le Monde Diplomatique–Tunisians have gotten little support (or attention) from within the West (especially from Western governments) for getting rid of Ben Ali's repressive regime and figuring out how to create an altogether new society.

T.I.A. @ the Denver Zoo

It's a zoo out there in Africa. At least the Kibongi Market can help you embark on this adventure gaudily dressed and kitsched-out.

But don't let a great fishing eagle carry you away as you pay for your adventure shopping:

–Neelika Jayawardane

"Wow, Africans on skateboards, so cool"

Yan Gross, the Swiss photographer and skateboarder–in an interview with South African journalist, Sean O'Toole, in Frieze (January/February 2010)–mocking the reaction of journalists, photographers and filmmakers, who flocked to Kampala, Uganda, after his self-published photoseries of a small group of local skateboarders, gained attention outside Uganda. "It was hard to deal with all these people. The suburb wasn't meant to become a touristic place or a zoo."

Source.

Music Break

Letta Mbulu performing "Music Man" on the American TV show, Soul Train, in 1977. (You can hear her husband, and main collaborator, Caiphas Semenya, on the backing track.)

'We All Shall Be Free'

Everyone wants in on the revolution in Egypt. Video for American rappers Jasiri X and M-1 of Dead Prez's just released ode to the protesters in Tahrir Square.

Silence is Consent

The London-based rappers Mohammed Yahya (born in Mozambique) and Poetic Pilgrimage call out Arab leaders "… from Egypt to Tunisia, Yemen to Saudi Arabia, Somalia to Bahrain and everywhere else where injustices take place daily."

New Video Blog: 'What's Up Africa'

The first weekly episode (posted on Fridays) of 'creative Africa video blog,' WHAT'S UP AFRICA, was posted online today. It's the work of Radio Nederlands Worldwide Africa producer, Ikenna Azuike, who also presents. The producers are hyping it as Europe's first video blog focused on Africa and they promise to bring us "… what's hip, creative and making the news in Africa." I like Azuike's irreverent, humorous style. I am a fan already. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.–Sean Jacobs