Associationxamxam - African Digital Perspectives

Cotonou.

Dust in a Taxi

Afrique du Sud et science-fiction

Trois nouveaux ouvrages qui vont encore renforcer la position très spécifique de l'Afrique du Sud dans la production de science-fiction africaine. Merci à Lauren Beukes qui a travers son blog promeut cette création littéraire et nous permet ainsi d'y avoir accès.

"The space Race", Alex Latimer, Umuzi.

"Apocalypse Now Now", Charlie Human, Umuzi, 2013.

"The Three", Sarah Lotz, Hodder & Stoughton, et en français "Trois" aux Editions Fleuve Noir. A paraître en mai 2014.

Faith Ringgold, Black Light Series #10: Flag for the Moon: Die Nigger, 1969

I Will by Kwesi Abbensetts

Shamans using sites like Facebook for black magic, says Malaysian official

A communications officer with a government ministry has reportedly warned people against posting pictures of themselves on social media, lest they be used in black magic rituals.

“We wanted to capture the essence of South African township culture in the 80s and 90s,” says South African photographer Kristin-Lee Moolman, recalling the brief for this shoot – the SS16 lookbook for emerging designer Rich Mnisi’s brand OATH studio. “The culture of androgyny was at its peak, supported largely by the need to ‘show up’ (out do each other).” So, to shoot the images, they headed to Mnisi’s grandmother’s house in Chiawelo, Soweto. When it came to casting the story, Moolman and Mnisi were keen to paint an accurate picture of youth culture in Johannesburg.

While Janet Otobo is a professional model, Wayne Swart is a student who they street cast on the way to the shoot. Aart Verrips is a photographer and, in fact, was Moolman’s assistant on the day. Incidentally it was Verrips’ first time in Soweto. “(It) was a new experience, especially being Afrikaans and gay,” he told us. “It was incredibly refreshing to go to the township and experiencing something totally different to what your perception had been.” As for Lucky Macheke – an accountant – he is Mnsis’s cousin and just happened to be hanging out in his grandmother’s house.

Desire Marea is one half of FAKA, an art duo who, as black queer artists, explore their complex identities through performance. “We teach complexities in a radical fight for our own humanity,” Marea says, explaining their raison d’être. In fact, Moolman and Mnisi also wanted to engage in identity politics in this shoot. “We felt that androgyny resonates with young people in South Africa now, where there is almost a celebration of LGBT communities as a movement to oppose cultural stereotypes and homophobia.

Written by Ted Stansfield for Dazed

Currently at @cccadi “Mulheres de Axé: Celebration of the Sacred Power of Women of Spirit” event in #Harlem This is The goddess Iemanja. #brazil #spirituality #orixas #iemanja #candomble #africandiaspora #africanspirituality

Interview of Kenyan film writer/director Wanuri Kahiu, about “Africa and science fiction”, in reference to the sci-fi movie she wrote and directed: Pumzi, 2009 

This interview was part of the exhibition “Si ce monde vous déplaît” at the FRAC Lorraine, Metz (France), 2013.

Oulimata Gueye