Journalist/photographer Chris Parkinson, who lives in Johannesburg, has shot this short film about car spinning in the city. Invited by a fellow photographer, who is also a spinner, he headed out to Nasrec, a racing track on the edge of Soweto. “What I loved about the event is that it seemed to be completely mixed, racially, both in terms of the drivers and the spectators – this is rare in South Africa where most sports are considered to be either black or white. There was a great atmosphere and everybody was there just to appreciate the cars and the driving,” he told me an in email.  Parkinson, born in Britain has been living in South Africa the last 4 years as a cameraman for BBC News.  “I like to think that I came to Africa with an open mind and have really enjoyed travelling widely and meeting so many different people. i wouldn’t say that I have a philosophy about how I film and the stories I tell about the continent–I just try to create something interesting to the viewer. I like to do positive stories and to show what a diverse and fascinating continent it is but at the same time it is impossible to hide from the challenges that the people and governments face –those stories must also be covered.”

You can view his work here.

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.