Buraka Som Sistema!!!

Buraka is indeed a lovely band that has created amazing fusion of Angolan Kuduro and electric gettotech mush-ups. I was pointed to this band by a friend from Germany (a long while back) and they seem to be much loved in Europe. Would be amazing to see them live sometime. I just hope African DJ’s are playing this awesome beats!!
Also catch DJ Edu on 1Xtra for his weekly Destination Africa Show.

Cadbury – Zingolo

Cadbury celebrates its move to fairtrade with its first single “Zingolo” that celebrates Ghana. The lovely Tinny gives this music video such liveliness. Directed by Ringan Ledwidge with post production from The Mill, they pull off some amazing lo-fi FX and the animation of a giant head mask is a thrill.

New Scratch CD packaging for Zinkplaat

Zinkplaat are an Afrikaans band from South Africa and have a new nifty CD packaging designed by Fanakalo a design studio also based in SA. Pretty great concept to reveal the album art work by scratching-it-off.

Dries Van Noten adds African Print to his Spring 2010 Collection

Check out Van Noten new collectionof inspired African patterns. I’m not a big fan of patterns – but this is lovely.

How Nuru Works

Typography essay via Motionographer. For more see Nuru International.

Warm Heart of Africa

Esau Mwamwaya gets more collaborative and hot! With 2 British producer cohorts, and a new album on the way, you’ll find his new songs quite great. Especially the Warm Heart of Africa featuring Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig. He has a few shows this week in the states. Go see him if you are in Philly or NYC. His show Sunday night in Boston was spectacular.

Artsworld!

A good ol’ friend Tim hosted this show and showcases some lovely insight to the now returned colourful graffiti of matatu’s on the streets of Nairobi. Enjoy.

Neil Blomkamp brings you District 9

I forget to mention this, but the anticipation is at nigh for this movie. If you’ve seen Alive in Joburg, District 9 appears to be a disturbing, unpredictable thriller. Neil Blomkamp gets remarkable support from Peter Jackson (who funded this movie). Set in South Africa, District 9 extends the short, Alive in Joburg, into an refugee camp of aliens, and human beings are left to figure out what to do with them. For more thrills – see District 9 in theaters August 14th.

Noisettes on Tour!

British indie rock band Noisettes are on tour in select states in the US and then onto their tour in Europe. Shingai Shoniwa the band’s vocalist and bassist hails from Zimbabwe. With Dan Smith (Guitar) and drummer Jamie Morrison, this band makes memorable tunes. I’m thrilled to see them live next week. I’ve long anticipated this after their US tour got cancelled in 2007 but got to see them at CMJ in NYC. Catch them if you’re in one of the 5 cities (New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC), they will be playing in this week and next. Check out more of their videos and songs here. Archived NPR interview while on tour in 2007.

Kay Hassan

Kay Hassan doesn’t turn sideways when it comes to observing the street life in Africa. What is often raw and disposed in our minds, he reflects in photography, collage and sculpture. His work is currently being represented by Jack Shainman Gallery.