“Mandela was not the only head of state taken in by Koagne. Le king kept snapshots of himself with many a man of power, among them Mobutu Sese Seko and Denis Sassou Nguesso […] He took Mobutu for 15 million dollars. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso lost 40 million to him. Sassou, Etienne Eyadéma of Togo, several high officials of Gabon, Tanzania and Kenya, a member of the Spanish government and an ex-operative of the Israeli Mossad were bamboozled as well.” – Dominique Malaquais (Blood Money: A Douala Chronicle).
Bantu Serenade by Ntone Edjabe (featuring Nah-ee-lah) (read excerpt)
Santu Mofokeng: Trajectory of a street photographer (part1) (read excerpt)
Binyavanga Wainaina: Hell In Bed With Mrs Peprah (read excerpt)
Dominique Malaquais: Lindela (the winnie suite) (read excerpt)
Boubacar Boris Diop: Myriem (read excerpt)
Cover:
Neo Muyanga
Chimurenga Chronic: The Invention of Zimbabwe (April 2018) Digital
This issue of the Chronic writes Zimbabwe beyond white fears and the Africa-South conundrum. Its a story that cannot be told without the music that has driven, documented and revolted against it.
With new work by Kudzanai Chiurai on the cover, inside read takes by Panashe Chigumadzi, Netsayi Chigwendere, Chirikure Chirikure, Brian Chikwava, Rudo Mudiwa, Percy Zvomuya, Nora Chipaumire, Nonstikelelo Mutiti, Clapperton Mavhunga, Bernard Matambo, Zenzele Ndebele, Ranga Mberi and many many more.
The accompanying books magazine, XIBAARU TEERE YI (Chronic Books in Wolof) asks the urgent question: What can African Writers Learn from Cheikh Anta Diop? The cover is a graphic homage to Diop’s Taxaw. Texts from Boubacar Boris Diop, Khadim Ndiaye, Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Ibrahima Wane, Ayesha Haruna Atta, Mamadou Diallo, and more.
