Contemporary art is a fast-growing field in Africa for young artists who want to make their voices heard. The following 8 artists use that voice to comment on social, economic, and political issues happening around them. Take a look at their art – do you recognize any pieces?
Aboudia – Cote d’Ivoire
Daloa 29 – 2014
Aboudia, born 1983 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, created this series of paintings based on his experience in 2011. He was forced to escape and take refuge in...
Culture
This is the second in a series of posts on a study abroad in South Africa by Juliet Schear. You can read the introduction to and part 1 of the series here.
Photo credit: Joel Burt-Miller
The Disability Project – Sandanezwe, KZN
Tucked away in the sprawling mountains and grassy hills of Sandanezwe lays a hidden gem: The Sandanezwe Disability Project. The importance of the Disability Project to this closely knit rural community is analogous to the importance of water to a seedling; the...
Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Nollywood.
1. Nollywood is the colloquial name given to the Nigerian film industry.
Photo credit: Talawa
Although the first Nigerian films were made in the 1960’s it wasn’t until the 1990’s and 2000’s that the industry blossomed as filmmakers took advantage of digital technology and internet distribution.
2. Nollywood is bigger than Hollywood.
What what? Yep, Nigeria produces on average around 1000 films a year, putting it second place behind the biggest film industry, Bollywood, but ahead...
The idea that the happiness of people should be a goal of public policy is not new. As early as 1809, Thomas Jefferson stated publicly his belief that “the care of human life and happiness… is the only legitimate object of good government.” And yet, for the lion’s share of human history, we have gauged societal wellbeing according to much cruder metrics, like national income. Of course, what makes people richer and what enables their flourishing are not always...
In the desert of Namibia’s remote Kunene region bordering Angola, live the Himba, a fascinating, semi-nomadic people whose way of life has virtually remained unchanged from that of their ancestors.
Instagram is one of the fastest growing social networks and can be used for anything, from capturing the small moments in life to championing a cause. However you look at it, Instagram lets you tell a story through pictures. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite Instagram accounts that depict life from all across Africa.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we’ll let the Instagrams do the talking…
Everyday Africa @everydayafrica
Who needs a fancy camera when you’ve got your...
“Guinea Wasted” is a photojournalistic piece I conducted while living and working in waste management in Guinea. The piece seeks to provoke thoughtful reflection and critically-necessary discussion surrounding the wealth/filth paradox that lives and breathes side-by-side in Guinea: beautiful countryside/trash everywhere; wealth of natural resources/trash everywhere; fancily-clad bureaucrats and businessmen/trash everywhere; gigantic villas and homes/trash everywhere — it’s pervasive, puzzling and, quite frankly, alarming.
We love the exclusive bracelet our friends at Raven + Lily made for us. We love the story behind the bracelet even more.
This is a photo series from photographer, Darren Ornitz. He is based out of Brooklyn, NY and working as a freelancer for Reuters, his work has been published in the New York Times, Travel + Escape, Afar, and by various other publications and NGO’s.
Settled 2,600m high in the Lasta Mountains of Northern Ethiopia and home to eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches, Lalibela is revered as one of the world’s greatest and most magnificent architectural achievements. These churches were all carved down...
Celebrations of love look different all over the world, so in honor of Valentine’s Day we looked at the incredible traditions of 10 different countries.
Japan
Japanese brides are decorated in white from head to toe, with white paint masking their faces to convey their utmost virtue and innocence. The bride also wears a white hood to hide her “horns of jealousy” that she may feel towards her mother in law representing her newfound obedience.
Photo credit: Andrea Calodolce
Germany
Part of the German...