Author: Okayafrica

African Metropolis: Six stories from six cities

African Metropolis is a short fiction film series that represents six major African cities in a fresh way. Deemed a “partnership towards new African cinema”, the series was created to promote a new image of African visual art, particularly film. From 40 scripts collected and reviewed, the six filmmakers were chosen from Abidjan, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.

(Pic: Supplied)

In the shorts, each filmmaker discusses a multitude of issues affecting their hometowns, including gender equality, forced labour and “unnatural love”. Three short films from the series — Berea (South Africa), Homecoming (Kenya) and To Repel Ghosts (Côte d’Ivoire) — will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) from September 5 to September 7. Directors Vincent Moloi (South Africa) and Jim Chuchu (Kenya) will be part of the crowd at the screenings in TIFF.

Head to the African Metropolis website to watch previews of each film.

Aqua Rafiki for Okayafrica.com. With more than half the population in many African nations under 25, the bright continent is currently undergoing an explosion of vibrant new music, fashion, art and political expression. Okayafrica is dedicated to bringing you the latest from Africa’s New Wave.

11 years ago

‘Bikelordz’: Following Accra’s BMX scene

Bikelordz is an upcoming documentary that sheds light on the small but buzzing BMX flat-ground scene in Accra, Ghana. The film dives into the lives of several young Ghanaian riders who’ve been called by the BMX lifestyle, showcasing their passion for the sport with all types of surreal stunts and tricks. Through their exploits, a familiar story unfolds: they struggle to live life on their own terms and the triumphs along the way are small but sweet.

Bikelordz producer/director Mikey Hart gave us a little background on the project:

Bikelordz first entered the world as a short film, edited by director/cinematographer Tobias Arturi from handheld camera footage shot by myself while living in Accra in 2006-7. The short premiered in the Bicycle Film Festival, resonating with audiences from Hong Kong to San Francisco, and inspired us to go back to Ghana with proper equipment, a shoestring budget, and some collaborators: NOLA artist Sam Feather-Garner, BK musician Charlie Ferguson of Zongo Junction, and SF photographer Quincy Cardinale.

With riders showing us around we were able to go places no tourists and many locals would never go – from sound system parties to funeral parties. The film will feature a soundtrack of original music by a variety of American and Ghanaian artists as well as some high-life favorites.

From handstands to back flips, these young innovators are doing things on wheels that we wouldn’t even try in a yoga studio. Check out the trailer below to see a preview of the documentary and experience first hand a fresh, groundbreaking lifestyle.

Bikelordz Teaser Trailer from Bikelordz on Vimeo.

Follow Bikelordz on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr to keep updated.

A Malik. McPherson for Okayafrica.com. With more than half the population in many African nations under 25, the bright continent is currently undergoing an explosion of vibrant new music, fashion, art and political expression. Okayafrica is dedicated to bringing you the latest from Africa’s New Wave.

11 years ago

On West African instrumentation

West Africa is no stranger to dope instrumentation. Legends like Fela Kuti and Toumani Diabate influenced the world by creating unique rhythms and melodies using the instruments of their home countries. Body-moving clicks, hits and rattling frequencies represent themselves throughout their arrangements, but what are these sounds and how are they made? Down below we dive into the instruments of West Africa, touching on sounds from Cameroon to Mali and everywhere in between. Check out the videos to hear the instruments and see how they’re played.

The Kora

The Kora is a 21-stringed instrument constructed from a large Calabash Gourd and covered with cow skin to act as a resonator. Though little Western classification can be placed to it, some associate it with the harpsichord family, calling it a “double-bridge-harp-lute.” Its beautiful range can be heard across West Africa in various countries such as Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso amongst others.

Shekere

The Shekere is a dried vine gourd covered in woven beads to produce a rattling sound when shaken. Although many variations and names of the instrument are made across West Africa, the Shekere is predominately associated with Nigeria.

Balafon

The Balafon is a wooden-keyed percussion instrument similar to a xylophone or vibraphone. It can be either be played in a fixed key (attatched to a wooden frame with Calabashes hung beneath) or free key (having wooden keys on any surface). Its rich sound is derived from the strike of a padded mallet to its carefully shaped individual keys. The inception of this instrument is linked to many West African countries such as Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, and Gambia just to name a few.

Akuba

Akuba is the name given to three small Yoruba congas which are played together in a complementary style. Played with sticks and hand alike, the Akuba drums often assume the lead role in the afrobeat sound, giving the musician the freedom to improvise and even direct dancers on stage. Also used in connection with the Nigerian Yoruba language, the drums help in complimenting the various tones of the spoken idiom.

Soku

The Soku is a single stringed fiddle native to Mali.

A. Malik McPherson for Okayafrica.com. With more than half the population in many African nations under 25, the bright continent is currently undergoing an explosion of vibrant new music, fashion, art and political expression. Okayafrica is dedicated to bringing you the latest from Africa’s New Wave.