Africa Is a Country

Rhythm like you’ve never seen

Rhythm like you’ve never seen

By
Sean Jacobs

No one mixes nationalism, tourism and sport in a feel-good cocktail quite like the South African advertising industry.

I stand corrected, but no one mixes nationalism, tourism and sport in a feel-good cocktail quite like the South African advertising industry. Like in this TV commercial for the South African national tourism authority, where Diski, a South African style of playing football that prioritizes tricks and dribbling – which in real life has only reaped bad results on the field – is roped into promote the 2010 World Cup.

It comes complete with dorky instructional video.

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.