Africa Is a Country

Music Break. Alabama Shakes

Music Break. Alabama Shakes

By
Sean Jacobs

Remember the Alabama Shakes–the best band of 2011. At the heart of the band is guitarist and singer Brittany Howard, described by my wife as “a cross between Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse” when we saw them performing live in early December at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan. Probably the best live gig I’ve seen in a while. At the Mercury Lounge we stood for long periods just staring at Howard working the mic. The rest of the band can play too. Anyway, in the video above you can see another one of Alabama Shakes more recent live performances–and Howard’s talents as a performer–captured on video. Go see them before they’re really famous.

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.