News
THIS WAY I SALUTE YOU – a gathering for Keorapetse Kgositsile
“When the clouds clear / We shall know the colour of the sky.”
On Thursday 30 January 2025, we are proud to host the launch of two long-awaited books on our dearly departed teacher Keorapetse Kgositsile:
Collected Works, 1969–2018, from the Broadside and Third World Press days to Beyond Words, a near 50-year journey of word-sound-power, edited by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers and Uhuru Portia Phalafala; and Uhuru’s own pathbreaking study, Keorapetse Kgositsile & the Black Arts Movement.
Join us at Chimurenga Factory with Uhuru Portia Phalafala, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Lwando Scott and mpho ndaba from 7pm or listen in here via PASS
(illustration by Medu for a concert by Gwangwa-led Shakawe feat. KK in Gaborone, circa 1982)
WATER NO GET ENEMY – a day-long broadcast on PASS
In honour of the almighty water we present a day-long broadcast on flows and unflows, tidalectics and water babies, cities and cemeteries, mosi-oa-tunya and motla le pula, drexciya, hendrixian merman and mami wata, ngondo and orin o’lomi, puddles, poem-maps and the rivers in our bellies, nkrumah’s and nehru’s big man dams, saline consciousness and the incessant fear of a wet planet. Contributors: Lamin Fofana, Christina Peake, Listening at Pungwe, Manthia Diawara, Ola Balogun, Otolith Group, Dikongue Pipa, Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Sorana …
Category: Live Events, News, Pass Blog
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A live reading of A NIGHT WITH THE ELEPHANT and launch of “The Revolutionary Thoughts of Kwame Nkrumah”
Following the CIA-backed military coup of February 1966 in Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah makes a strategic retreat to Conakry, where the leader of the Guinean Revolution, Sekou Toure, appoints him “co-President”. Conakry is also home to Amilcar Cabral, leader of the PAIGC. The three leaders meet regularly at Nkrumah’s residence, Villa Sily, to plot the return of the Osagyefo to power in Ghana and reflect on the struggle vs apartheid, colonialism and neocolonialism. Also present at these reasonings are the likes …
Category: News, Pass Blog
Tags: Amilcar Cabral, Efemia Chela, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Vijay Prashad
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IZIMPABANGA ZOMHLABA – a listening session with Nombuso Mathibela
Early 20th century translation of Western texts into African languages by African writers for African readers was the invention of new worlds. Following the literary tradition established by the likes of Sol Plaatjie and Masizi Kunene, Makhosazana Xaba offers a conversion of Frantz Fanon’s classic ‘Wretched of the Earth’ into isiZulu. Thursday 22 August, 6pm, we host a close reading of Xaba’s text, Izimpabanga Zomhlaba, directed by Nombuso Mathibela LIVE in studio. Join us at the Chimurenga Factory (157 Victoria …
MSAFIRI KAFIRI – a conversation and listening Session on the roots and routes of Tanzanian hip hop with Seth Markle
We are pleased to be hosting Pan African scholar and educator, Seth Markle. In session, Markle will take us through the underground hip-hop scene of Tanzania, tracing the movement through a key selection of music, interviews and insights from his current project with on-the-ground artists-activists for whom hip-hop has long been a form of survival, expression, and cultural way of being. Thursday, 01 August, broadcasting live from 6pm. Tune in at www.panafricanspacestation.org.za Don’t miss out. Who no know go know
Category: Liberation Radio, News, Pass Blog, Pass Radio
Tags: Bi Kidude, hip hop, James Wamba, Julius Nyerere, Juma Nature, KBC, Kikosi cha Mzinga, King Kiki, Kwanza Unit, Langa Kileo, Mejah Mbuya, Seif, Seth Markle, Sista Carrolla, Squeeza, taarab, Tanzania, Ujamaa, Wamaba dia Wamba, zeze
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SANKOFA – a conversation and listening session with KING THA
We were honoured to host royalty at the Chimurenga Factory on 22 July 2024 – our revered King Tha, the earth-acclaimed singer-songwrioter and bandleader Thandiswa Mazwai joined us for groundings pon her new LP and our long march back to total liberation. King Tha was in conversation with our sister-comrade-poet-theorist Uhuru Phalafala. Listen to the session here: We retreat forward, always.
Launching The Breathers – THE LATEST IN THE CHIMURENGANYANA SERIES
We are pleased to be launching the latest addition to the Chimurenganyana series, The Breathers, a collaborative long poem by Daniel Borzutzky and Stacy Hardy. The Breathers is an attempt to experiment with ways to document both the suppression of breath caused by capitalism, and the liberation of breath, or, the mere act of breathing as a form of political resistance to those forces that confront our bodies with what cannot be said, what cannot be seen, and what cannot be …
Category: Live Events, News, Pass Blog
Tags: Bongani Kona, Daniel Borzutzky, Fred Schmalz, Stacy Hardy, The Breathers
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Heliacal Rising of Sothis – a celebration of Kelan Phil Cohran
Chimurenga proudly presents “Heliacal Rising of Sothis“, a celebration of the late great musician and educator Kelan Phil Cohran on his birthday 8 May 2024, also the 59th anniversary of the founding of AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians). Cohran was a co-founder of AACM as well as the founder of the Afro Arts Theatre. His seminal group the Artistic Heritage Ensemble generated numerous recordings and offshoots, including groups such as Earth, Wind and Fire and The Pharaohs. …
BHEKI KHOZA TRIO
We are pleased to host veteran guitarist, composer and mbaqanga jazz revivalist Bheki Khoza at the Chimurenga Factory. Bheki is a graduate of the legendary collective African Jazz Pioneers and has played with masters like Victor Ntoni, Winston Mankunku, Barney Rachabane, and more. He also wrote the music for Zola Maseko’s award winning film Drum (2004). For this session, he is accompanied by Allistair Gibbs (bass) and Nicholas Dlakavu (drums). Friday, 26 April 2024, 7pm Chimurenga Factory – 157 …