I discovered another form of art, Hyper-realism. It is a form of art that appear extremely realistic to the extent that they trick the eye. It is so real, it is hard to tell the difference from a photograph. I came across Alex Peter amazing works and had to make sure he tells us the story behind his art.
A little bio about yourself
I’m Alex Peter, discovered my gift of Arts and painting at a very young age. I grew in it and developed a deep passion for it. This passion ignited my love for and respects for arts. I have been able to develop my artistic skills using different kinds of drawing mediums like a pen, pastel, pencil and Pyrography art/wood burning (use of a razor, sandpaper, and burner). I’m a self-taught pencil artists and a self-taught PYROGRAPHY (wood burning) artist. My artworks centers around what my eyes can capture and how life is perceived relating to the African settings, which I then skilfully executes realism.
An hyper-realist artist, what form of art is that?
Hyper-realism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high-resolution photograph. Where it seems like you can’t differentiate photography from an artwork. Hyper-realism is considered an advancement of Photorealism by the different methods used to create the resulting paintings or sculptures.
Razor blade on wood and burner, how did you start?
I started this Pyrography art (Razorblade on wood) as of 2010. Was doing pencil and pastel works as at then. Because of how my passion was for art, I searched for more different kind of unique styles until I discovered this kind of art at Benue state, so I worked hard and do self practices on this technique, by infusing my pencil style to this kind of art to form realism. Was also inspired by an artist called Simon Agbo. I grew and improved on this genre of art, that’s how I was able to create realism with it now.
What drawn you to art?
Art has actually has a place in me, since i was a kid. The passion to create is crucial thing in my life till date.
What inspires your kind of art? What message are you trying to pass across with your art?
I’m inspired by my environment and how it is been perceived by people and me.i try to express the feelings, emotions of how my environment is been perceived and how people can stand up to any challenges life offers.
Have you done any exhibition since you started?
Yes, I’ve done exhibition. Exhibited at Omenka gallery, Lagos
Which other artist(s) inspire you?
I’m inspired by the likes of Kelvin Okafor, Harinzey Stanley, Simon hexbyn and some other great artists.
Which artist will you love to work with?
Would love to work with Simon Hexbyn, Harinzey Stanley, Oscar Okunu, Ayo Filade, Isimi Taiwo .
You can follow the works of Alex on Instagram – @alexpeter_art
It was a bright and beautiful Thursday and it was
*drum rolls* Wanderlust Thursday!!!!!!!!!!
But at first, I was worried about how I was to engage more
than 5,000 African bloggers without making a fool of myself while at it *phew*
Little did I know what was in store for me. It was Wanderlust Thursday and the country we were wandering to was none other than the great pearl of Africa, UGANDA!
Turns out it all started well with different Ugandans contributing to the live chat. Uganda is a very beautiful country and quite a lot of experiences were shared. Some travel nomads joined the conversation late but were assured that all the tips and must-see places in Uganda would be together for them.
At this point, I really appreciate Evelyn Masaba @NoirEnBlanca for coming
through. She created a massive thread about must visit places in Uganda.
Evelyn also shared the following:
You must be ready for anything while traveling in Uganda. For lazy wildlife drives, go to Kidepo, Q. Elizabeth, Murchison, L. Mburo. You will see lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo et al. My favorite is Murchison, as it has everything from meerkat and warthog to elephants and of course, the gorgeous roaring falls.
There you will find so many Elands, Zebras, Meerkats, Warthogs and whitewater bucks at the Lake Mburo Park. No elephants here though
Queen Elizabeth is the actual Queen of the parks because of the amazing wildlife, the Lions lazy up in the trees plus there are lots of buffalos.
I
haven’t been to Bwindi or Kidepo yet, but the former has so many chimps,
gorillas whilst Kidepo has leopards and giraffes et al. For bird watching; the
Mabira forest will be your favorite location and make sure you head on to the
Elgon where rare bird life is spotted., hike through Rwenzori Mountains
National Park and explore the largest Mahogany Forest in East Africa right in
Budongo Forest Reserve.
Relax on the shores of Lake Victoria and visit the Ssese Islands. The Ssese Islands are an archipelago of eighty-four islands.
Jinja will thrill the life out of you. Go white water rafting, kayaking as well as Bungee jumping on the thundering Nile.
Mountain climbing? Uganda got you! Mountain Rwenzori is also known as mountains of the moon and the dormant volcano Mount Elgon are scale worthy.
In Kampala: pass by the Munyonyo shrines (in the photo), visit the Baha’i temple, make your way to the National Museum, Kisubi tombs.
So
much culture to explore around Uganda, the tribes are colorful and have a
strong heritage that you will want to soak it in. Try tasting all the food you
find around Uganda too because it all comes with a story and tradition. Street
food? Try Rolex, TV chicken, lusaniya
At this point, I had to ask……
‘Why are we eating ‘Rolex’
and what’s TV chicken guys?!’
I was told Rolex – is a street food/quick snack. A combination
of eggs and vegetables wrapped in a chapatti…
Ever been to Soroti? It became my favorite district after Manafwa and Fort Portal. It’s so sleepy and rocky. ?
Nvannungi @Nvannungi_ handled the travel tips and gave lifesaving insights and things to put in consideration while planning your travel to Uganda.
1. Time
Our people in and out of Kampala have a much-skewed view of time. It gets worse as you draw further away from town. Plan your trip with a provision for delays; that includes issues arising from random road works to bad weather, late arrival of meals, etc. If a guide who spends most of their time in districts outside Kampala says a hike will take 40 minutes, make that an hour and 20, and factor in numbers and physique or fitness of your travel party. #Travel #Uganda.
2. Weather
It’s not the culture in Uganda to pack and plan travel with the weather in mind so people end up hiking with rubber sandals on rainy days. Tour guides too never think to mention the season when you make bookings so do it for you and your could-be dope vacation.
3. Travel Party
Are your people tourists, travelers, storytellers or other? Understand your travel party before letting a tour operator pursue you into certain (possibly amazing) adventures. Your people might just be happy to be driven around & not walk/hike. Luckily #Uganda offers so much to do and to see for all types of travelers. Indigenous, Bougie, etc. #Travel #Uganda
4. Travel. See #Uganda
Whatever you fancy, you can find it. Uganda is so rich
and so beautiful. Plus, you’ll be wiser for it! Most importantly, learn
something & tell that Ugandan story in a picture, a caption, or a
blog. #KoikoiUg
Kalangala islands have White sand beaches, great stories by the locals, boat rides. It’s a place away from the bustle of town noise. Gorilla highlands are rich in history, nature and you’ll return so relaxed. There are about 29 islands to visit, adventure awaits you.
The famous saying ‘so close yet far away’ is what applies to me and visiting the Olumo Rock. My travel crew and I decided to explore Abeokuta in Ogun State and visit Olumo Rock. We were joined by 7 other amazing people that were interested in visiting Olumo Rock.
We took off from
Lagos around 8:30am (the small chops guy really made it a serious task to delay
us). Light traffic here and there on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, fast-forward to
10:20am, we were in Abeokuta.
It’s a nice town.
With the help of Google maps, we were able to navigate around and locate Olumo Rock
(to be on the safer side, though, my paranoid self paid an Okada man to lead us
there).
Entry fee to Olumo
Rock is N700. It’s quite amazing the number of visitors that come to climb the
rock.
I was in awe of the rock formation which was similar to the kind found in Efon Alaye, Ekiti State. We got assigned to a tour guide, who did his best in telling us about the history of the rock.
Climbing the rock was no joke. Bolu (she has hiked every mountain in sight in Jos, Plateau State) and Ifeanyi are experienced rock climbers, so it wasn’t a new task for them.
The climb was
adrenaline filled and fun. Hopping from one point to another, side-walking
through paths, bending through other paths and running up sloppy surface, we
made it to the top of the rock.
And there, it was
such an amazing view. From the top of the rock, you can see the first primary
school in Abeokuta, the first cathedral church and the lovely brown roofs.
There is an art
and craft store near the rock. They sell amazing artworks which some of us
bought.
By the time we
descended the rock, we were tired and hungry. Again, with the help of Google Maps
(no more paying Okada man), we were able to locate the Green Legacy Resort.
FYI, the resort is amazing.
I love what they
have going on there with wood-carving art. From the tables and chairs in the
lounge area to the decoration, it was nice.
We took a walk
around the whole facility. It isn’t your regular resort as this one comes with
a mini zoo and a presidential library. It has a mini rock (if I recall well,
it’s called Rock of Inspiration) of its own with two telescopes at the top. You
can see Abeokuta with it.
We had our amazing buffet lunch, great laughs about
the trip and we headed back to Lagos. I wouldn’t have wanted to go to Abeokuta
with any other set of people than the ones that I went with. They were simply
amazing!
We’re definitely heading to other places soon. The Fun Bus is getting ready for us.
The slogan ‘stay woke’ practically took over every event and issues in 2016. Our own form of staying woke was to explore the various historical place, starting in West Africa and to the rest of Africa as time goes on.
Our kick-off destination was Badagry, a coastal suburban town in the outskirts of Lagos State, Nigeria. Embarking on adventures like this will be nothing short of fun-filled but we thought it will be more fun to explore with other young and bright Africans who are keen on such historical adventures.
So, on December 3, 2016, 15 great young explorers embarked on this journey to discover what their forefathers went through and how they saved generations from going through the same ordeal they did.
On getting to Badagry town, our first stop was the Heritage museum. Oh! This museum was filled with loads of heartbreaking stories and the struggle of Nigerians during the slave trade era.
The first storey building in Nigeria was our second stop. It was a bit scary climbing up the frail looking stairs because they are very old.
Climb we did, however, and in there, we got a glimpse of the first Yoruba bible that was translated by Samuel Ajayi Crowther; a returnee slave.
Our next stop was the Mobee slave museum and the Brazilian barraccon. There we got to re-imagine how hundreds of people were kept for months in a space not big enough to squeeze in 30 people.
These people; at least, the ones who are still alive after those months, were taken to the slave ships which took them beyond our shores. We also saw some of the items local leaders at the time traded their people for; mirrors, cannons and more.
A couple of us also tried on the chains that people sold off to slave traders were locked in; heavier than you can imagine and terribly uncomfortable metals.
After the Brazilian barraccon, we took a boat ride to the other side of Badagry creeks where the walk to the journey of no return started.
Walking under the hot scorching sun made us realise how hard and impossible it must have been for the slaves to have walked barefooted to the Atlantic Ocean with their hands, neck and legs tied together with heavy metal chains.
The walk was very exhaustive but some of us couldn’t help but pick the beautiful sea shells that were washed up the shores by the beautiful water current.
Big ups to Mie Mie restaurant (no, they didn’t pay for this), they really came through for us when we were starving and exhausted.
The bus ride back home was hilarious and fun filled.
Shout out to the squad that made the trip. Great, bright and wonderful minds.
P.S we are exploring Olumo rock next, the history of the Egba people and the ancient city of Abeokuta. You can join us. Drop a note with the contact form.
I was more interested in the history behind this amazing place, we totally forgot to take colorful images.
Simi from eattechtravel.com made an infographic of top places that can be visited in Lagos in 24 hours. I thought it was impossible. Funmi of TVPAdventures.com decided to try it out and hey! I hopped in on the adventure.
Little did I know, I was about to have one of the amazing moments of this year. The rain started in the early hours of the morning but we weren’t going to let it stop our shine. By 9:30 am, I joined Funmi and Sam at the LCC and we kicked off the adventure.
walked barefooted in a conversation filled with baby crocs
First stop was the
LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTER. I
personally love the ambience here and what it represents. We were told some
parts of the conservation centre were flooded but we went ahead. No flood can
stop us.
LCC has the longest canopy walk in Africa at 401 meters. It was my 1st time walking through it. It was interesting but Funmi kept shaking the rail (side-eye Funmi), Sam was scared but talked his way through the walk.
We got to the end
of the walk, but had to walk through the other parts of LCC barefooted. I was
scared because we saw a crocodile doing the mannequin challenge few metres from
where we started walking.
That said, moving
my feet through the cool waters as we walked to where there is a pond of
colourful fishes, large chess and dart board was so soothing.
Sam got soldier
ants crawling up his pants, he had to go to a corner to remove his pants and
shake the ants off. Funmi tried capturing but she had pity on his groom price.
After missing our way and walking in circles, we found our path and headed right back to the car park.
LEKKI ART AND CRAFT MARKETwas our2nd stop. The market has a lot to offer tourists but the road to the market
is in no way encouraging. If you want to visit the market, I will suggest going
during the dry season. The road is a big mess during the rainy season.
Lots of amazing
art works in the market, though. You will be spoilt with choice for what to
buy.
If you’re looking
for 4 floors of awesomeness and want your mind blown, our 3rd stop, NIKE ART GALLERY is the perfect place
for you.
The gallery is
owned by Nike …….. She’s a great artist herself. She started her art work from Oshogbo,
Osun State. The gallery is filled with some of her works and of other artists.
However, no pictures were allowed in the gallery.
You need to see it comprehend how amazing the place is. There are artworks worth as low as N5,000 and as high as N10 million. Believe me when I say the N10 million artworks are totally worth it. *whispers* word is she’s opening a museum soon that will be filled with her own artworks.
CMS Cathedral
The art works at the entrance are amazing
With the owner of Nike Art Gallery
THE CATHERAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY CHURCH was our 4th stop, but we couldn’t stop-by,
so we drove by because time was no longer on our side.
We tried as much
as possible to catch up with the RAILWAY
MUSEUM which was our 5th stop but the man in charge was locking
the doors by the time we got there. We shall be back there.
The famous AFRIKA SHRINE was our last stop for the
day. I was hoping to be impressed by the Shrine considering the hype I have
been getting from people but my expectations were not met.
The excessive loud
music was a big turn off and we were not having the highness in the air. We
were told that Thursday and Sunday nights are always interesting as Femi Kuti comes
around to perform.
Anyway, we ended
the day at Truffles in Ikeja. I spent the day with amazing humans with
beautiful souls.
Lagos traffic was
good on us as we experienced little to no traffic, and we grooved to Shina
Peter’s Afro-juju to pass away the little traffic.
If you want to
recreate this, you will need to pack enough snacks, water and energy drinks. I
will recommend Glucose D too. It will really help boost your energy level.
P.S: I have been
asked by a lot of people why Badagry wasn’t on the list. Visiting and exploring
Badagry is an activity that will take a whole day. There’s a lot to see in
Badagry, you don’t want to rush through it.
Watch out for the next city we’re exploring in 24 hours!
If you love nature and wildlife then you shouldn’t be a stranger in the world of natural parks and game reserves in Africa. They are also fun places you should consider when planning your vacation and visit. We are going to be exploring the very best nature and wildlife reserves in Africa. Starting with West Africa, we going to explore various and top best national parks and game reserves in North, East and South Africa.
The West African coast from Dakar Senegal to Yaounde Cameroon have a lot to offer when it comes to natural parks and game reserves. Have you heard of Mole, Pendjari and Waza? These wildlife reserves are some of the finest in West Africa – they may not be as famous but the wildlife is just as diverse, safaris cost a fraction of those in eastern and southern Africa and you’re unlikely to be bothered by crowds. Here are our top blissfully low-key West African wildlife parks.
Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sierra Leone
This small island on the Moa River in Sierra Leone is unlike any other reserve or park in West Africa: with 11 species of primate present in the sanctuary (www.tiwaiisland.org ). It’s one of the very few places in West Africa where you are virtually guaranteed to see chimpanzees and other endangered primates such as the beautiful Colobus and Diana monkeys. There are other rare species such as the endemic pygmy hippopotamus, river otters and more than 130 species of bird. There are guided excursions on the islands and nearby villages, and you can stay the night on a simple, covered platform. The sanctuary is easily reached by taxi from Bo or Kenema but do stay the night in Tiwai if you are using public transport.
Mole National Park, Ghana
The most amazing thing about Mole (www.molemotelgh.com ) is how cheap and accessible it is: independent travellers can easily get here by public transport from Tamale. Entry fees are under US$10 and walking safaris are standard (although if you did want to go on a game drive, the park has a 4×4 for hire). And then of course there is the Mole Motel, in an unbeatable location overlooking the park plains, with premium views of what the animals – elephants, warthogs, baboons, antelope and birds – are up to. There is even a swimming pool for a refreshing dip in between outings.
Two elephant bulls in an aggressive confrontation in Mole National Park.
Cross River National Park, Nigeria.
The largest rain forest in Nigeria and the oldest surviving one in Africa is located in Cross River National Park. Sharing its name with the state, Cross River, it has the highest tropical biodiversity in Africa. Twenty percent of the world’s total known species of butterflies reside in Cross River. This wildlife park is a top tourist attraction. It’s known for its naturally preserved inhabitants that offers so many activities to get the visitors engaged. The park has many localised species of plants and animals such as gorilla, drill chimpanzee, Gwantibo or golden potto forest elephant, Saleginella etc.
Parc National de la Pendjari, Benin
Surrounded by the beautiful Atakora Mountains, the Pendjari (www.pendjari.net ) is probably the best park in West Africa. It has ‘big-ticket’ wildlife – lions, elephants, cheetahs, baboons – and plenty more for those with the patience to seek it. The infrastructure is fantastic too, with sensational guides and accommodation right at the heart of the park to enjoy drives at sunrise and sunset, when wildlife is at its best. Stay at the lovely eco-lodge Pendjari Lodge (www.pendjari-lodge.com), or the more old-fashioned Hôtel de la Pendjari.
Kakum National Park, Ghana.
Located just 20 kilometres from Cape Coast, the Kakum National Park is home to elephants, monkeys and elusive bongo antelopes which roam among over 800 rare species of birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. But beside its vast natural endowment of plant and animal species, the presence at Kakum Park of world class receptive facilities for visitors such as the 333 metre long tree-top walkway and a multi-purpose visitor centre, have accounted for the park’s status as an irresistible destination for eco-tourism.
Niokolo Koba Park, Senegal.
Niokolo-Koba, at 900 sq km, is Senegal’s largest national park. Principally covered by dry forests and savannahs littered with limber and bush, the National park of Niokolo Park, counts nearly 1500 different sorts of vegetation. This allows it to home 30 different species of mammals, 36 different reptiles, 20 different amphibians and 60 sorts of fish. Of the more than 830 different species of birds recorded in the park, 109 are protected by the Bonn convention and Bern convention.
W National Park; Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The W National Park is one park with three sections and each of the three sections is in a different country. The three countries of Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso each governed their respective part of this national park. The wildlife found in the W National Park, includes the lion, the leopard, the serval, the caracal, the cheetah, the Cape buffalo, the African elephant, the hippopotamus, the roan antelope, the aardvark, and the warthog. The W National Park contains a small population (less than 30 individuals) of the rare Northwest African cheetah and more than 350 species of bird.
Boucle du Baoule Park, Mali.
Boucle du Baoule National Park is located near the town of Bamako in the western region of Mali, Africa. The park is largely covered in West African savannah although the vegetation is divided into two bio-geographic regions of Sudan Guinea in the south and Sahelian zone for the north. Other parts of the park are combretum shrub, savannah woodlands and a dense rain forest on the banks of Baoule River. Pristine rock art, ancient tombs and varied wildlife make this Boucle du Baoule National Park, an attractive place of visit for the tourists of Mali.
Yankari Game Reserves, Nigeria.
The Yankari Game Reserve located in Bauchi State is arguably West Africa’s best known wildlife area… Its prominence as a wildlife destination of choice dates back to the 60s, and since then Yankari has gained global recognition as a great destination for classic West African wildlife (www.yankarigamereserves.com). Yankari is the premier reserve and it is a top destination for wildlife and eco-tourism. It boasts the largest population of elephants in West Africa as well as several endangered species like the leopard. In addition to the wildlife, there are several crystal-clear and infection-free natural warm springs at Yankari, most prominent of which is the Wikki Warm springs. The Wikki Warm Spring is very popular amongst visitors, and is a good place to relax after a long safari. Yankari is an ideal place for bird watchers, because the variety of birds here is astounding.
Crystal clear Wikki Spring
Waza National Park, Cameroon.
The Waza National Park covers an area of 170,000 hectares. It is the most famous park in Cameroon and one of the most spectacular in French-speaking Africa. The Waza National Park in Cameroon is one of the most visited places in this far north side of Africa. The animal population is so great that it also houses endangered species with the likes of the giraffe family, antelopes, bird species and jackals among others. It’s the most important wildlife park in the city of Cameroon and one of the most significant in the country of Africa. This is the only park where you can see animals in danger of extinction. This park is an absolute must to discover.
The best time to see wildlife in West Africa is December to April, when the grass has been burnt (which improves visibility) and the dry season forces animals to congregate around water holes. Tracks are generally impassable in the rainy season (July-September) and parks are often close.
Chaka is a profound historical fiction of the life of the founder of the Zulu Kingdom, Chaka, (sometimes spelt Shaka) who built a mighty empire during the first quarter of the 19th century. As an epic tragedy, the story’s arc followed the normal curve or the inverted ‘U’, where events are built up to the peak and begin to descend uncontrollably ending in the demise of the main character, Chaka.
In this novel, Mofolo mixes facts with fiction to recreate the legendary and wondrous life of one of Africa’s most mysterious and highly enigmatic figures. The eventful reign of Chaka (Shaka) became the epic tragedy of a heroic figure whose overweening ambition drove him to insane cruelty and ultimate ruin.
“I do not believe,” Mofolo writes, “that there was ever a human being whose life was as full of mystery as that of Chaka.” An attempt to capture this mystery led Mofolo to write Chaka in 1910. But his missionary publishers were so freaked out by the novel that they refused to publish it until 1925.
Chaka, born out of wedlock, became the first male child of Senzangakhona, the tribal king, who was previously without male children. He decided to marry again so that he can have a male offspring for the kingship. He became attracted to Nandi and, overcame by her beauty, took her when they were yet to be married, in violation of tribal law. She became pregnant, whereupon the two got married secretly. Chaka was born afterwards.
His position, however, became precarious after Senzangakhona’s senior wives began to bear him male children. The other wives were jealous of Nandi and her son Chaka, conspiring and imposing on Senzangakhona to send Chaka and Nandi away from the palace. They threatened to expose Senzangakhona for impregnating Nandi before marriage. Fearing that his tabooed deed might be found out, Senzangakhona acceded to his wives’ demands. In spite of this, and perhaps exacerbated by it, the news of Chaka’s rejection and his illegitimacy spread through the villages, making him object of ridicule and persecution.
Like any oppressed soul, Chaka believed that things would change since right and justice was on his side. That illusion however faded away when he heard his father order his death, even as he stared Chaka in the eye.
Chaka was on the run from assassins when he met one of the most ruthless witchdoctors that ever graced the pages of an African novel, Isanusi. Isanusi, who liked the young man and promised him that if he will obey in all things, he will one day inherit his father’s kingship, which was rightfully his by birth. Isanusi was the guy who made things happen. He was the magician, the sorcerer, the therapist, the priest, the conman, the strategist, the visionary, the confidante, the doctor, the hit-man, the fixer—the everything man— that every great empire-builder in history has had by his side.
He was the one who “inoculated” Chaka with the “medicine of blood.” “If you do not spill blood,” Isanusi explains to Chaka, “it will turn against you and kill you instead. Your sole purpose should be to kill without mercy, and thus clear the path that leads to the glory of your kingship.”
Isanusi turned Chaka into a killing machine. A man who had been hunted all his life had returned to bring the world to its knees.
By living up to this mandate to kill or be killed, Chaka instituted a political order never before imagined in his part of the world. But the blood on which his beautiful empire was built did not stay still forever. Chaka was eventually consumed by the violence that made him king and lived out the rest of his days in what can be described as schizophrenia.
The story of great emperors gone mad is old and familiar, but Mofolo tells it with all the dark, romantic flair of an African storyteller—sorcery, the supernatural, graphic violence, and tragic love. According to Mofolo himself
“The events in Chaka’s life were overwhelming because they were so numerous and of such tremendous import; they were like great mysteries which were beyond the people’s understanding.”
Mofolo’s novel is a dark, mysterious, and poetic critique of the principle of violence that defines all empires. There are novelists in Africa—a multitude of novelists. But there’s only a handful of storytellers. Mofolo was one.
This book was listed as one of the best African books of the twentieth century. I recommend it for all those who love historical fiction and who want to know more about different cultures.
Even though I don’t understand a single word from this song, this song by Mafikizolo is one of my favourite house music. While growing up, my Dad was a huge fan of late Brenda Fassie and Mercy Phakela, so we were always listening to some of their songs like Vuli Ndlela, Too late for Mama, wedding day, Qula,(Oh yea I listen to all genres of music) which made me too become a fan of such music genre. Loved their style of music but never knew they were referred to as house music. With my curiosity of knowing bit about everything, I decided to hit the books and know what house music is all about.
Apparently, House music originated from South Africa or better put South Africa is the home to House music. A number of genres exist in the South African music scenes but the most popular appears to be House music. House music has become the sound of young democratic South Africa. Even though House music was first known in a Chicago club called ‘the warehouse’ (guess that’s where it got it name) but it wasn’t until the early 1990’s House music found it home in South Africa.
By the 2000’s, South African House music scene grew at a fast rate. Local DJ’s and amateur producers were experimenting with the sounds and this was believed to have given birth to the South African House music as we have known it today. House music in South Africa has unfurled into the related strains of kwaito, township tech, township funk, mzanzi house etc.
‘South Africa- the world’s biggest house music market per capita’
Just as the name, house music, in my opinion I think it is the best choice of music when having a house party, get-together family picnic, Sunday barbecue etc. When you need to sit back, relax and blow off steam of stress, House music got you. The way the rhythms in these songs are directed, juxtaposing darker, ultra percussive kwaito with bright electro down to guitar strumming will blow you away.
I have listened to loads of great house music coming from artist like Mafikizolo, Mi Casa, Brenda Frassie, Bucie, Dj Clock, Uhuru (Uhuruhuruhuruhuruhuru!!! (Can’t help it, I always do this when any of their songs and featured songs comes on), Dj Qness and lots more. The list is endless. I must say house music got a great and bright future ahead. We haven’t seen their best yet.
You can download, stream and listen away to some good house music to get through your week. Drop your comment on your favorite house song and artist.
Cheers!!!
Scrolling through the cable trying to get through the boring Sunday noon, stumbled upon this show called Africa Straight Up. It’s a mini documentary telling a story and giving an insight to how Africa is the future of the world. Couldn’t help but agree to the notion. With the resources (which are terribly mismanaged due to poor governance) Africa got we are truly the future of this world. Read Tom Burgis’s The Looting Machine: Warlords, Tycoons, Smugglers and the Systematic Theft of Africa’s Wealth; some weeks back and couldn’t help but to agree with how he sees Africa – a continent with third of the Earth’s mineral deposits and some of its weakest institutions as being particularly vulnerable to the predations that arise from the combination of mineral wealth and poor governance.
Most captivating part of the documentary was when a final year Harvard student made a comment; “I’m going back home to join force with other young talented people to help develop my country. I got nothing to impact in America or Europe, they got enough brain needed for any form of development they wish to attain” she said.
Her comment gave me the thought of brain drain. Brain drain! Brain drain!! Brain drain!!!
Brain drain refers to the emigration of intelligent, well-educated individuals to somewhere for better pay or condition, causing the place they came from to lose those skilled people, or “brains”. This happens when people perceive that the leadership of a country is unstable or stagnant and thus, unable to keep up with their personal and professional ambition.
Brain drain is actually having it toil on Africa. It has led to loss of human capital, decline in economic development, affected the health sector in Africa. According to a BBC report back in 2001, brain drain cost the African continent over $4 billion (will be triple by now) in the employment of 150,000 expatriate professionals annually with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya believed to be the most affected.
If we actually have an in-depth look at it, poor governance and lack of adequate utilization of resource are major causes of brain drain. But we shouldn’t just keep mute and let the brains that will help build and shape Africa better continue to drain away or die in the Mediterranean. We should start by standing up for what’s true and right; ensure those we vote for are those with the vision to create an atmosphere that would help talents flourish; let our vote count, supporting and working together with those with good intentions for the development of individual African country. I’m on the side that brain drain indeed has dug a hole in the better development of Africa.
I’m not implying that the brains available aren’t trying their possible best. Don’t know about you but I believe if brain drain can be curbed, our development rate will increase. We need more brain. NO ONE CAN DO IT BUT US.
