Multidisciplinary artist and performer Vanessa Sindihebura weaves sound, movement, and storytelling into immersive, emotionally charged experiences. In this interview, they speak about Biheko, a piece that explores mothering, forgotten histories, and the power of rest as a form of resistance. Drawing from East African oral traditions, field recordings of insects, and pre-colonial queer histories, Sindihebura…
As the 17th edition of FNB Art Joburg loomed upon us, the notion of obsession densely lingered in my mind. I’ve been influenced to know obsession as being negatively manic but time and observation has pointed to how it can serve as a powerful and positive force in the realm of artistic expression. When channelled…
It’s important for Black creatives to stay connected, given the surprising similarities in experiences across different parts of the world. I had a candid conversation, with the prolific and accomplished author and artist Kayo Mpoyi, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and now a native of Sweden, based in Stockholm. Kayo Mpoyi’s work…
The persistent impact of colonialism’s “Divide and Conquer” strategy on the relationship between Africa and her Diaspora, necessitates the addressing of entrenched power imbalances and confrontation of shared struggles against economic exploitation and systemic oppression. While acknowledging the historical scars of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, this article challenges the notion of an overly…
“There is this burden that comes with being called a Black artist – I just want to be called an artist,” says South African-Zimbabwean artist, Richard Mudariki, one of the artists whose work is being showcased at the Zeitz MOCAA When We See Us exhibition. Zeitz MOCAA’s executive director and chief curator, Koyo Kouoh, along…
Much of my time as a writer has been spent investigating and covering diasporic communities. Maybe I’ve placed such a significant emphasis on covering the topic due to my academic background, particularly in history and political science, where issues relating to our beautiful continent and its vast and intricate histories always seemed to strike more of a…
Curated by Joseph Gergel, Crossed Looks includes approximately 90 works from the Guinean Swiss photographer Namsa Leuba‘s initiatives in Guinea, South Africa, Nigeria, Benin and Tahiti. The Halsey Institute presented Crossed Looks from August to December 2021 — being Leuba’s first solo exhibition in the United States. Namsa Leuba moved to Guinea Conkary, her mother’s…
A conversation recently circulated on the mean — yet culturally influential — streets of black diasporic twitter: “I can’t lie, the galys have lost it recently”, social media content creator and influencer Chunkz says to his friends, “it’s the way people are speaking nowadays broski wallahi”, he continues. “I can’t even have a conversation”, says…
Providence, as defined by the Oxford Languages dictionary, means the timely preparation for future eventualities. This word perfectly describes Ladipoe and how he has navigated his newfound success in anticipation of the Providence EP. The artist responsible for the hit song, Feeling featuring Buju TYU, has he followed it up with the release of two…
I feel like for a long time as Africans we’ve been under the rug with the influence that we’ve given the world. Now is a time when we’re saying, ‘No, we want to be seen. We want to be heard. And we want the world to know that we’ve connected everybody and everything did come…
We’re made to believe that suffering is just a natural part of being who we are, and is a natural by-product of being a Black person – Timi Sotire For his directorial debut, in collaboration with A Joyful Project, Tobi Onabolu reads us a love letter to the inner child in every black person,…
“What will you wear when you see loved ones again?” In the middle of a Covid infested year – a tumultuous time in human history – that was the question that circled my mind as both a fashion enthusiast, optimist and someone who understands and appreciates the power of what we wear on our backs. …
