Prince released the official video to his latest single “Breakfast Can Wait” earlier this week and it is addictive! The smooth funk and soul that accompanies his familiar appealing voice blends beautifully in this new track. The even bigger surprise is the music video that features 18 year old dancer, model, and actress, Danielle Curiel, with a killer dance sequence and a female Prince impersonator. In an interview with Pitchfork, Danielle explained that Prince e-mailed her to create a concept video for his upcoming single. Talk about lucky! I think she did a pretty clever job with this. It is nice to see real choreography and fun acting makes it’s way back to music videos. Getting back to the music, if this single is a sample of an upcoming album, we have a lot to look forward to. Enjoy!
Lurdez da Luza is a rapper from Brazil and is paving the way for hip hop and female MCs in her country. With a confident attitude and a sense of humor, her music and videos fuse Brazilian culture and traditional rhythm with contemporary jazz and hip hop. Enjoy!
Also known as the Queen of the Stage, Myriam Fares is a Lebanese singer and entertainer. Her style, from fashion to acting to music fusion, is really admirable. She showcases her culture in such a vibrant way. I love the imagery and theme in the video for “Kifak Enta.” The color and retro style is so fun. Enjoy!
Continuing to indulge in the riches of Africa, this week we are visiting South Africa at the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. Located between the Twelve Apostles mountain range in the Table Mountain National Park and the Atlantic Ocean, this hotel and spa is home to luxury services and breathtaking views. All of the guest rooms are individually decorated to provide a unique experience. I know “Coming to America” was strictly entertainment, but some of these rooms remind me of the kingdom in that film. The different dining areas are also gorgeous and is recognized as one of South Africa’s top places to wine and dine. From every angle of this place, one can experience a romantic sunset, a fun day on the beach, or just a relaxing break.
Music Spotlight:
Mafikizolo is a South African musical group that originally formed in the late 1990s. Their music puts a unique spin on the kwaito genre. This is their latest single and I love the beat as well as the colorful video. I also love the fashion style of the female singer in the group. Enjoy.
Temi DollFace is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. She coins her style of music “Drama-Soul,” which, as you can hear, is highly influenced by Afro-beat. This is her latest single and everything, from the lyrics to the music to the imagery, is worth sharing. The title also caught my eye – as some of you might know, the legendary Miriam Makeba sang a song called “Pata Pata,” and I was interested to see what she was going to do with the song. Enjoy.
This week we are indulging in another pearl of Africa. The Chongwe River House provides a breathtaking location to view the wonders of the Chongwe and Zambezi river. The home was created to complement its majestic surroundings without interfering with nature. The frame of the home was built with wild wood and all the furniture was carved from one fallen tree. It is almost like the best tree house you could ever imagine. They also provide a private vehicle, guides, canoes, and a boat to explore the park at your convenience. For those who really love the outdoors and talking to animals, the Chongwe River House would be the perfect honeymoon destination.
Music Spotlight
Mutinta is a Zambian singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her music blends afro-beat, jazz, reggae, and soul. I chose to share her latest single with you because of its happy vibe and peaceful imagery.
Cleo Ice Queen is a Zambian hip-hop artist. Her latest single showcases the new wave of music in Zambia.
I was introduced to the term “afropolitan” while listening to an interview with author Taiye Selasi on NPR. She was discussing her recent book “Ghana Must Go,” and mentioned why she considers herself an “afropolitan,”:
“What distinguishes [Afropolitans] is a willingness to complicate Africa – namely, to engage with, critique, and celebrate the parts of Africa that mean most to them. Perhaps what most typifies the Afropolitan consciousness is the refusal to oversimplify; the effort to understand what is ailing in Africa alongside the desire to honour what is wonderful, unique. Rather than essentialising the geographical entity, we seek to comprehend the cultural complexity; to honour the intellectual and spiritual legacy; and to sustain our parents’ cultures.”
Her story and opinions caught my attention and I continued to research this term to see how it was received. It turned out I was a bit late in this discovery – there is a sophisticated magazine in South Africa, an insightful blog in the UK, a number of news articles, and a variety of exhibits and panels highlighting this subject.
With all of these outlets, the definition for an “afropolitan” seems to be up for self-interpretation depending if the individual lives in Africa or the diaspora. I plan to examine these interpretations and see where this search for identity and community could be taken a step further. At the moment, this project will be a short documentary with a supplementary op-ed piece.
If you or someone you know identifies with the term “afropolitan” or have an opinion you would like to share, comment here or contact me.
Dagny Zenovia 