Articles
Circum-Atlantic Conference: The Future of the African Diaspora
“Afrofuturism, arguably the most famous concept of speculative futures of the African diaspora, originated primarily in the USA, and is associated with artists such as Sun Ra, George Clinton and Octavia Butler. Envisaging a future and presenting this impulse was considered a symbol of liberation. How do contemporary artists and intellectuals of the African diaspora in North and South America, as well as Europe, envision their future today?”
Listen to this talk on PASS. 30/10/2015. 19hoo-21h00
The circum-atlantic conference will bring together speakers in Johannesburg, Sao Paulo and New York, to discuss these issues via live video conference. Speakers include Kodwo Eshun of the prolific Otolith Group, based in London, Cameroonian Bonaventure Ndikung, founder and curator of the Berlin based SAVVY Contemporary art space, Adrienne Edwards, curator, scholar, and writer with a focus on artists of the African diaspora and the global South and Kenyan born, award-winning artist Wangechi Mutu who lives in New York. They will be joined by Viny Rodriguez, Sociologist and member of Sistema Negro, and Leda Martins, poet and essayist, both from Sao Paulo.
Recommended Reading: In the film, In the Year of the Quiet Sun, produced by The Otolith Group postage stamps produced in Ghana between 1957 and 1966 are assembled into a political calendar of pan Africanist images. At “After Year Zero”, Eshun discussed the film, philatelic time travel, pan African pop art, moments of resistance and excavating the past. Watch this discussion here.
African Futures. Technology: Means or Curse of the Future?
“Who owns technology and its embedded codes? When will we use software that’s written in Yoruba? And what’s the story with Ghanaian cyberpunk?” On the 30th of October, 2015, PASS will be streaming the panel discussion “Technology: Means or Curse of the Future?” that features Raimi Gdadamosi (Nigeria/UK) as the keynote speaker, and Teagan Bristow (South Africa), Jonathan Dotse (Ghana) and Waniru Kahui (Kenya) as panel respondents. “Technology in its current form (and particularly the representation of technology) is widely produced …
Category: Articles, Pass Blog
Tags: African Futures, Jonathan Dotse, raimi gbadamosi, teagan bristow, Wanur Kahui
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African Futures: Africa’s Speculative Futures and New Imaginaries
“What kind of speculative futures do artists from different disciplines imagine? Much thought-provoking work has been produced when artists engage with ideas of the future and how contemporary realities in Africa potentially provide answers to questions yet to come.” On the 29 of October, 2015, PASS will be streaming the panel discussion “Africa’s Speculative Futures and New Imaginaries” that features Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Cameroun) as the keynote speaker, and Sherif Adel (Egypt), Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum …
PASS landing at The Showroom, London
In the first week of October (7-11) 2015, PASS presented a live broadcasting programme of music, interviews and events with Chimurenga collaborators, The Otolith Collective (Kodwo Eshun and Anjalika Sagar), in London. Areas of interest included the work of photographer George Hallett – who used the book jacket and record sleeve as a curated exhibition space during the apartheid era; a critical look at the concept of and crude distinction drawn between Sub-Saharan and Arab Africa; and FESTAC ’77, the Second World Black and …
PASS in Paris: Jean-Pierre Bekolo
From lesbian vampire sci-fi flicks to alternative tips for how to mine the continent, Jean-Pierre Bekolo is a unique voice in 21st century cinema. He is the author of titles including Quartier Mozart (1992), Le complot d’Aristotle (1996), Les Saignantes (2005), and Mudimbe’s Things and Words (2015). Bekolo lives and works in Yaounde. Many of his films and more are available to watch via Bekolo’s Kino TV channel. His movements can also be followed via bekolopress.wordpress.com. During the PASS pop-up in Paris, Bekolo will sit with director Mwezé …
PASS Pop-UP in Paris
From September 17 – 19, the Pan African Space Station (PASS) will Pop-UP inside the gallery of Fondation Cartier, Paris with live programming that explores the past-present-future of Congolese music cultures. This intervention is part of the exhibition Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko. Participating artists in the PASS Pop-UP in Paris include Ray Lema, Elikia M’bokolo, Syllart Records, Afrikaada Magazine, Baloji, Shenguen Shegue, Kongo Astronauts, Christine Eyene. Contributions will also be beamed in from New York, Montreal and Kinshasa …
Gospel Christian Porn Rap: FOKN Bois
This installment of Stories about Music in Africa was produced and performed by Ghanaian rap-duo FOKN Bois (Wanlov the Kublor and M3NSA). Stories about Music in Africa is an ongoing project of the Pan African Space Station.
Category: Articles, Pass Blog, Video
Tags: FOKN Bois, M3NSA, Stories About Music in Africa, Wanlov the Kublor
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Revolting Songs: Neo Muyanga
This installment of Stories about Music in Africa features South African musician and composer Neo Muyanga. Stories about Music in Africa is an ongoing project of the Pan African Space Station. Special thanks to Brundyn+ Gallery and Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism.
Category: Articles, Pass Blog, Video
Tags: Neo Muyanga, Stories About Music in Africa
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A Comet is Coming: Shabaka Hutchings & The Brother Moves On
This installment of Stories about Music in Africa features Shabaka Hutchings and The Brother Moves On (Raytheon Moorvan, Siyabonga Mthembu, Zelizwe Mthembu, Simphiwe Tshabalala and Ayanda Zalekile) Stories About Music In Africa is a series of Pan African Space Station transmissions, concert-lectures, recorded at the Chimurenga headquarters in Cape Town as well as satellite locations across the African world.
Category: Articles, Pass Blog, Video
Tags: Shabaka Hutchings, Stories About Music in Africa, The Brother Moves On
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Wanlov the Kubolor live at Slave Church, PASS 2009
From the PASS archives, Wanlov, one half of FOKN Bois, with band back in ’09. Makganwana Mokgalong recalls the experience(s). My first Wanlov the Kubolor experience was not quite an out of body experience, possibly not a once in a lifetime one either but a firmly unique experience it definitely was. From the back of the room all I could see was the back of people’s heads, and I numbed my irritation by convincing myself that I did not hear music with …