An Introduction to Arithmetic Sorcery
Cyclonopedia – Complicity with Anonymous Materials (re.press, 2008), a “theoretical-fiction novel” by Iranian philosopher and writer Reza Negarestani is reviewed by Neo Muyanga. First of all this is definitely a hyper-modern, rather than a ‘contemporary’ work, aesthetically speaking. It is very much like reading one of those overhead transparencies we used to use in high school, except this one […]
The last words of Fela Anikulapo Kuti
In 1996, Keziah Jones visited Kalakuta Republic every day for a week to interview Fela Anikulapo Kuti. On the fifth day, after waiting six hours, Keziah got to speak with Fela, who he remarked kept you in “constant and direct eye contact” and spoke “in short bursts of baritone.” He added, “In the three hours […]
The Boys are Doin’ it!
Fela is dead and so is his anti-materialist political message. Modern Afropop is Brand Africa – all things young and aspirant. Enter P-Square and Nigeria looks set to reclaim poll position in African contemporary music. Olufemi Terry reports. I confess: I had never heard of P-Square until this year. “Do me” was the first song […]
52 Niggers
By Stacy Hardy. Julius Eastman had a way of walking. He had a swagger, a way of swinging hips. He rarely strolled or ran. Instead, skin tight jeans/ black leathers slung low on his waist, sucked down by the velocity of his gait, he cruised and rolled. He played loose. He played cool. He worked […]
Under the rainbow rays
Dathini Mzayiya‘s new exhibition Onder die reёnboog strale (Under the rainbow rays / Phantsi kwelitha lomgcamabala) on show at Greatmore Studios in Woodstock, Cape Town is an odyssey of inner and outer visions, first-person experiences and critical vantages that fracture and reassemble what we think we know and believe about living and dying. Premesh Lalu […]