Here is an article exploring the ties between Chinese businesses and Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe. Of course, the Chinese have been investing heavily in Africa for a number of years now (especially in the natural resource sector). However, the case of Zimbabwe is interesting because of Mugabe's oppositional rhetoric on foreigners somehow doesn't apply to the Chinese...
Here is a great article chronicling the southern Africa country of Angola's issues with water distribution. It also turns a critical eye towards the discrepancy between the country's economic growth (measured in GDP) and the realities of poor folk. Using GDP as an indicator for "development" can be unrepresentative to say the least (just look at the United States!). Finally, this piece just reiterates how important effective infrastructure is to a country. They should be sending engineers on Fulbrights to engage in public works projects, not English teachers!
Here is a positive article on a successful public-private partnership in the province of the Western Cape. The program is countering rampant youth unemployment by starting young people off in apprenticeship positions with private firms. However, the students apply and are placed by the public sector. Interesting model that while just beginning, can hopefully be another route to putting people to work.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
And another one
On another literature note, Tomorrow is Another Country by Allister Sparks is a terrific unpacking of the events that transpired from 85-94 in South Africa. Sparks is a prominent journalist in SA who has written a few highly regarded books on Apartheid, transition, and the new country. Tomorrow is Another Country is fast-paced and chock full of detail (a bit overwhelming in some cases!). However, it reveals a myriad of details on the unprecedented negotiation of power from an all-white to a mostly-Black government in South Africa. Sparks has a knack for latching onto personalities, and characters (major and minor) are finely sketched. Being a first-rate journalist, Sparks was also in and around the action. One particular personal account of being caught in police's gunfire onto protesters is quite shocking and riveting.
Reading this book one gets a real sense of how compromise can be utilized to good measure. However, it does underpin some of the more romantic notions of mass struggle producing change. While of course, without the agitations of citizens both in SA and internationally the Apartheid government would not have felt the pressue of impending collapse. Yet according to Sparks, it was the leaders at the top of the ANC and the National Party that argued, schemed, and finally decided upon the fate of the nation. Regardless, a really intriguing read for those concerned with the nitty-gritty of how it all went down.
Here is the Amazon page of the book.
Reading this book one gets a real sense of how compromise can be utilized to good measure. However, it does underpin some of the more romantic notions of mass struggle producing change. While of course, without the agitations of citizens both in SA and internationally the Apartheid government would not have felt the pressue of impending collapse. Yet according to Sparks, it was the leaders at the top of the ANC and the National Party that argued, schemed, and finally decided upon the fate of the nation. Regardless, a really intriguing read for those concerned with the nitty-gritty of how it all went down.
Here is the Amazon page of the book.
Knowledge skills be priceless
Jonathan Jansen is one of the foremost contemporary South African academics. He is now the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State. UFS is quite possibly the most conservative, steadfastly Afrikaans educational institution in South Africa. Jansen is a Black South African who from 2000-2007 served as the Dean of the Education College at University of Pretoria (where I am working). He has written a book about his experiences entitled Knowledge in the Blood. The book is not merely a recounting of events during his tenure. Rather, it resonates on a much deeper level, serving as a unique insight into the post-Apartheid landscape.
Being an all-white and all-Afrikaans speaking University until 94-95, there has been tremendous pressure for the university (and all South African institutions really) to transform. However, transformation is not a smooth ride. Jansen came in as one of the few non-white people in any position of power within the University. His experiences are fascinating. Moreover, Jansen (a fantastic writer) supplements and enriches the text by exploring larger issues of historical memory, liberatory education, the psychology of the oppressed, the politics of language, and what it means to be white in the new South Africa. Again, he has a truly remarkable perspective on what he witnessed. This, coupled with the fact that he is a scholar of monumental proportions (the bibliography in exhasutive!) makes this a must-read for anyone interested in South Africa.
Here is the Amazon page for the book.
Here is an interview with him.
Here is a recent article about a new institute for studying Race and Reconciliation opening at UFS.
Being an all-white and all-Afrikaans speaking University until 94-95, there has been tremendous pressure for the university (and all South African institutions really) to transform. However, transformation is not a smooth ride. Jansen came in as one of the few non-white people in any position of power within the University. His experiences are fascinating. Moreover, Jansen (a fantastic writer) supplements and enriches the text by exploring larger issues of historical memory, liberatory education, the psychology of the oppressed, the politics of language, and what it means to be white in the new South Africa. Again, he has a truly remarkable perspective on what he witnessed. This, coupled with the fact that he is a scholar of monumental proportions (the bibliography in exhasutive!) makes this a must-read for anyone interested in South Africa.
Here is the Amazon page for the book.
Here is an interview with him.
Here is a recent article about a new institute for studying Race and Reconciliation opening at UFS.
Friday, March 4, 2011
They even had it on the news...(track 2)
Again, here are a couple of insightful articles from the Mail and Guardian about issues in Southern Africa. The first one is about "urban living" in a dilapidated building in downtown Jo'burg. The article highlights some of the travails of being poor and without decent housing in South Africa.
The second article relates some of the problems the tiny country of Swaziland is facing currently. Many of these problems stem from the repressive and authoritarian ways of the monarchy in control of the government. However, the article does well to focus on the resistance and dissent channels within the country. Hopefully these organizations can take heart at the happenings with their brethren in the north...
One more, just to lighten the mood! Here is an article about the most successful vegetarian food company in South Africa. They are family-owned and seem to be really principled in their approach to food (using completely vegan and non-genetically modified products). I just bought some of their faux-chicken burgers. I hope they taste as good as their ethics :)
The second article relates some of the problems the tiny country of Swaziland is facing currently. Many of these problems stem from the repressive and authoritarian ways of the monarchy in control of the government. However, the article does well to focus on the resistance and dissent channels within the country. Hopefully these organizations can take heart at the happenings with their brethren in the north...
One more, just to lighten the mood! Here is an article about the most successful vegetarian food company in South Africa. They are family-owned and seem to be really principled in their approach to food (using completely vegan and non-genetically modified products). I just bought some of their faux-chicken burgers. I hope they taste as good as their ethics :)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Amakhosi for life!
On Saturday I headed to Jo'burg with a fellow ETA to attend the Soweto Derby between the Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. These are the two teams from Soweto and a derby (a soccer term, I think) is a "subway series," where two teams from the same city play each other. Here is a short introduction to what the derby means in Soweto. More than just playing for pride, the two teams were/are locked in a battle for 1st place in the Premier League (South Africa's top division). Pirates were 2nd and Chiefs 3rd in the league going in.
The entire experience was rollicking, to say the least. Attending the game with 15 other white guys (all of whom, except for my friend who I came with, I had just met that day) was novel in itself. We were probably the largest single contigent of white folk at the game. This, combined with our loud and cheerful behavior, for some reason made us a hit in the parking lot/giant tailgate party before and after the game.
Yet we are not the important actors in this story. The crowd, all 92,000 of them, created an infectiously festive mood for the game. As we were stuck in traffic with thousands of other waiting to get into the parking lot, I got the first sense of what the day had in store. There were people dancing alongside traffic dressed in their team's gear, honking vuvuzelas, and joyfully interacting with the cars they passed. This carred on into the stadium and after the game as well. Not like many other countries where soccer games are tinged with violence both symbolic and literal, this was a respectful, yet highly competitive affair. While the soccer was exciting, the fans made the experience...
Now that's what I'm talkin' about...
It's interesting to see the relationship between soccer and politics! This guy is urging you to make the right choices :)
Since I was ignorantly neutral entering the afternoon, I quickly made an arbitrary decision to support the Kaiser Chiefs. My cause was largely enhanced by a striking yellow Chiefs hat I bought outside of the stadium. Suddenly, I was on the team.
I quickly learnt that the peace sign was the proud signal of the Chiefs. The Pirates, on the other hand, were marked by a more aggressive (they are pirates!) crossing of the forearms into an X. These signs were to be happily flashed all day at both friends and "enemies" alike. More significantly, within an hour of supporting the team I was pledging my everlasting support for them through the phrase "Amakhosi for life!" As the afternoon wore on I was to be involved in some serious embraces where both myself and my embracer were "Amakhosi for life brother!" Needless to say I accepted these team symbols with gusto!
The stadium itself was the majestic Soccer City, where the 2010 World Cup Final was played.
Below is a view from inside behind one of the goals where we sat. These seats, may I mention, were definitively NOT where our tickets told us to sit. However, we (and seemingly thousands of others), took are seat designations as mere suggestions. Myself and two others settled smack dab in the middle of Chiefs supporters behind the goal.
This is before the match commences
When the Chiefs scored on this goal during the first half, it was absolute mayhem. At this point I was completely dedicated to the cause, so when the ball was thumped into the back of the net I shot back my head to yell at the sky in jubilation, my fingers clenched in peace signs. Suddenly I was being hugged and high-fived from all sorts of folks in our section, all of us caught up in the mad frenzy only a goal in soccer can produce. And all from wearing a hat...The game ended 1-1, a last-gasp goal by the Pirates seriously deflating the Chiefs fans. But only on the walk to the parking lot, where again it was a positive atmosphere of teasing, laughing, drinking, dancing, and picture taking.
We exited on a high-note. Since we had all come in a mini-bus, with a driver who was a Chiefs fan and saw the game with us, we took to bumping loud House-like jams and rolling around the emptying parking-lot with the door open. As we passed people we would flash different signs to them (there was a mix of Chiefs and Pirates in the van!), occasionally get out and take pictures, and generally cheer for each other. This continued on the road as well. As we were still with our sliding-door wide open, we hooted and hollered with passengers from other passing cars, everyone enjoying the relative harmony and joy of the moment...
The entire experience was rollicking, to say the least. Attending the game with 15 other white guys (all of whom, except for my friend who I came with, I had just met that day) was novel in itself. We were probably the largest single contigent of white folk at the game. This, combined with our loud and cheerful behavior, for some reason made us a hit in the parking lot/giant tailgate party before and after the game.
Yet we are not the important actors in this story. The crowd, all 92,000 of them, created an infectiously festive mood for the game. As we were stuck in traffic with thousands of other waiting to get into the parking lot, I got the first sense of what the day had in store. There were people dancing alongside traffic dressed in their team's gear, honking vuvuzelas, and joyfully interacting with the cars they passed. This carred on into the stadium and after the game as well. Not like many other countries where soccer games are tinged with violence both symbolic and literal, this was a respectful, yet highly competitive affair. While the soccer was exciting, the fans made the experience...
It's interesting to see the relationship between soccer and politics! This guy is urging you to make the right choices :)
Since I was ignorantly neutral entering the afternoon, I quickly made an arbitrary decision to support the Kaiser Chiefs. My cause was largely enhanced by a striking yellow Chiefs hat I bought outside of the stadium. Suddenly, I was on the team.
I quickly learnt that the peace sign was the proud signal of the Chiefs. The Pirates, on the other hand, were marked by a more aggressive (they are pirates!) crossing of the forearms into an X. These signs were to be happily flashed all day at both friends and "enemies" alike. More significantly, within an hour of supporting the team I was pledging my everlasting support for them through the phrase "Amakhosi for life!" As the afternoon wore on I was to be involved in some serious embraces where both myself and my embracer were "Amakhosi for life brother!" Needless to say I accepted these team symbols with gusto!
The stadium itself was the majestic Soccer City, where the 2010 World Cup Final was played.
and...
Below is a view from inside behind one of the goals where we sat. These seats, may I mention, were definitively NOT where our tickets told us to sit. However, we (and seemingly thousands of others), took are seat designations as mere suggestions. Myself and two others settled smack dab in the middle of Chiefs supporters behind the goal.
This is before the match commences
When the Chiefs scored on this goal during the first half, it was absolute mayhem. At this point I was completely dedicated to the cause, so when the ball was thumped into the back of the net I shot back my head to yell at the sky in jubilation, my fingers clenched in peace signs. Suddenly I was being hugged and high-fived from all sorts of folks in our section, all of us caught up in the mad frenzy only a goal in soccer can produce. And all from wearing a hat...The game ended 1-1, a last-gasp goal by the Pirates seriously deflating the Chiefs fans. But only on the walk to the parking lot, where again it was a positive atmosphere of teasing, laughing, drinking, dancing, and picture taking.
We exited on a high-note. Since we had all come in a mini-bus, with a driver who was a Chiefs fan and saw the game with us, we took to bumping loud House-like jams and rolling around the emptying parking-lot with the door open. As we passed people we would flash different signs to them (there was a mix of Chiefs and Pirates in the van!), occasionally get out and take pictures, and generally cheer for each other. This continued on the road as well. As we were still with our sliding-door wide open, we hooted and hollered with passengers from other passing cars, everyone enjoying the relative harmony and joy of the moment...
Tumi Molekwane
I "discovered" Tumi and the Volume (his live band!) a few weeks ago upon my arrival in-country. Their album was profiled in this article as the dopest South African hip hop group of the year. After downloading their album and having a listen, who was I to disagree? Absolutely electric. Here are a few videos and articles:
This first video is the MC (Jaco van der Merwe) from Bittereidner, Tumi, and Jack Parrow, a well-known MC who raps in Afrikaans from Cape Town. The song is a tribute to the three cities they are from: Pretoria, Jo'burg, and Cape Town, respectively. While the first and third verses are in Afrikaans, I can tell (thanks to the way the video is done), that they are love-letters. That is, there are many references to places and events in Pretoria and Cape Town (I actually understand some of the Pretoria ones). I personally love hearing these songs, as one of hip hop's many fine qualities is its respect for place. To be an MC is to represent where you are from and its constituents.
However, Tumi's verse (and maybe this is because I actually understand the language its rapped in!) is a fully-drawn portrait of a city. Indeed, it is really a fully-drawn portrait of contemporary urban South Africa in all its glories and contradictions. The verse is a penetrating critique of unbridled capitalism, a discourse on racial injustice, a celebration of the hustler, an abstract rumination on the city as an idea, and a simple shout-out to dynamic New York of Africa...
Tale of Three Cities:
Here is a live medley video (its a great Tumi sampler):
Here is a raucous performance where he reps Pan-Africanness to the fullest:
I encourage you to search him out some more if you like what you hear. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
This first video is the MC (Jaco van der Merwe) from Bittereidner, Tumi, and Jack Parrow, a well-known MC who raps in Afrikaans from Cape Town. The song is a tribute to the three cities they are from: Pretoria, Jo'burg, and Cape Town, respectively. While the first and third verses are in Afrikaans, I can tell (thanks to the way the video is done), that they are love-letters. That is, there are many references to places and events in Pretoria and Cape Town (I actually understand some of the Pretoria ones). I personally love hearing these songs, as one of hip hop's many fine qualities is its respect for place. To be an MC is to represent where you are from and its constituents.
However, Tumi's verse (and maybe this is because I actually understand the language its rapped in!) is a fully-drawn portrait of a city. Indeed, it is really a fully-drawn portrait of contemporary urban South Africa in all its glories and contradictions. The verse is a penetrating critique of unbridled capitalism, a discourse on racial injustice, a celebration of the hustler, an abstract rumination on the city as an idea, and a simple shout-out to dynamic New York of Africa...
Tale of Three Cities:
Here is a live medley video (its a great Tumi sampler):
Here is a raucous performance where he reps Pan-Africanness to the fullest:
I encourage you to search him out some more if you like what you hear. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
Hot Box Studios
I was fortunate enough to see a great concert in Pretoria this past Friday. The venue was Hotbox Studios, a run-of-the-mill house only a few blocks from where I live, that has been transformed into one of Pretoria's hippest venues. The house/venue is lived in and operated by six or seven guys around my age, and I give them all the credit for providing an awesome space. The vast backyard is where the action takes place, as the stage is constructed backing into the house (so backstage is their living room), with picnic tables and a rudimentary but highly functional bar towards the back. There were hundreds of people there, and from what the people I was rolling with said, it was a smaller crowd. The two bands hailed from Pretoria, so it was nice to see local talent represented (as Jo'burg and Cape Town have a reputation for being more on the artistic cutting-edge).
The first band that played was Fulka ( their facebook page), blurrily pictured above. They are a self-proclaimed "folktronica" band with catchy songs and an affable indie tone. Four versatile musicians shared the duties of playing the violin, banjo, keyboard, and guitar while being backed by a laptop maestro pumping out electo beats. The result was quite fun. Check out their video:
Here is an interview done with them
Here is their first video:
They had a guest MC come oon for a few songs. His name is Tumi Molekwane. That brings me to my next point...
The first band that played was Fulka ( their facebook page), blurrily pictured above. They are a self-proclaimed "folktronica" band with catchy songs and an affable indie tone. Four versatile musicians shared the duties of playing the violin, banjo, keyboard, and guitar while being backed by a laptop maestro pumping out electo beats. The result was quite fun. Check out their video:
The second band, Bittereinder, was comprised of three guys all with prior established musical credentials. They have joined forces to make an album, and actually this was their first live show! The group consists of two producers (who also do back-up vocals) and an MC. The lyrics were all in Afrikaans, so I could not understand what was being said. But all indications pointed to it being pretty deep. My hunch was corroborated by people I talked to afterwords, who said it the verses "were like poetry." The crowd ate it up and it was fun to experience hip hop in a different language (I am gearing up for a whopping entry on South African hip hop, where multilingualism will be further discussed). I chatted with the MC for a quick minute after the show and he was a kind, humble dude.
Here is an interview done with them
Here is their first video:
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