“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
An anthology of 14 texts that were originally published on the website of the Africa South Art Initiative. Texts focus on significant bodies of work and critical themes integral to the practice of particular artists, foregrounding the work of artists and writers in engaging with many of the pressing concerns of the postcolonial present. Includes introductory essay, bibliography, index, colour illus. (115), 208pp.
Editor/s: Mario Pissarra, with Thulile Gamedze, Fiona Mauchan and Keely Shinners.
Authors: Candice Allison, Thulile Gamedze, Candice Jansen, Stefanie Jason, M. Neelika Jayawardene, Thelma Mort, Sihle Motsa, Sibongile Oageng Msimango, Mario Pissarra, Khumo Sebambo, Keely Shinners, Lena Sulik, Elize van Huyssteen, Lize van Robbroeck.
Featured artists: Nirveda Alleck, Shelley Barry, Lizette Chirrime, Peter Clarke, Garth Erasmus, Gabrielle Goliath, Ann Gollifer, Randolph Hartzenberg, Lizza Littlewort, Nomusa Makhubu, Tuli Mekondjo, Cedric Nunn, Helena Uambembe, Mduduzi Xakaza.
Publisher: ASAI, March 2026
ISBN: ISBN 978-0-620-93854-9