Lifestyle, Arts & Culture
The Kenyans say that ‘talking with one another is loving one another’ and it’s true for us at Songhai. So, in this month of love (and chocolate!), pull up a pew, relax and let’s enjoy the art of conversation & love!
Latte & Literature
There’s nothing quite like a Midsummer Night’s Dream ambiance to get the creative juices flowing and Theia Coffee House, with its bougainvillea and vines clinging onto the pergolas nestled within Accra, is the perfect place to bring out the thespian in you. Thank you to Fatima for sharing this haven with the rest of the team, where the books on display and for purchase are an ode to African literature. It’s here that Kissy picked up Manchester Happened by Ugandan author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi over an organic cocoa bean tea. Makumbi truly displays her gift for understanding African millennials brought up in the UK as she brings the reader into such close contact with the protagonist, a complex teen (or maybe simply just a teen?!) who struggles with the realities of being caught in the crossfire of two cultures as a Ugandan living in the UK. Another Ugandan author has inspired Adedayo this month, as he reads about Vanessa Nakate, a 23-year old Ugandan climate activist who's been drawing attention to this global issue from an African perspective.
Still on the theme of cafes and creativity, we’re excited to be sitting down for a coffee this month with another female author, Grace Ecklu, whose novel, Guilty as Grace, opens a window into the life and soul of a pious young woman who is in search of something when she gets it wrong – possibly grace?
The Fourth John-Reign, Rejection & Rebound has been keeping Gustav up past bedtime as he pours over the mastery of one of Ghana’s leading investigative journalists, Manasseh Azure Awuni. Awuni’s perspective, almost from a fly on the wall vantage point of the dining rooms of Ghanaian decision-makers both past and present, is an eye-opener.
A definite addition to Kobi’s 'must read and watch' list is System K. It’s a documentary that profiles some of Kinshasa's young artists as they balance the demands of their work and the dynamics of the Congolese capital. If time eludes you, the review by the NY Times makes for interesting reading.
The Art of Love
The continent’s art scene continues to turn heads and burn (deep) pockets as it wades its way into the pie of global art sales – the sector was valued at USD67bn in 2018. This month, Morocco opens its doors to 1-54, a bold celebration of African Art, in which artists, gallerists and art enthusiasts are invited to escape to the soul of African contemporary art, 20-24 February. Works by over 65 artists from around the continent such as Nigeria’s folk artist Abe Odedina and Malian photographer Seydou Keita will be on display.
We’ve long believed that the motherland is a curator’s paradise and this piece speaks our language as well as illuminating the rising crop of African investors in African art. Indeed, the sale of Tutu, a portrait of an Ife princess by the Nigerian master of modernism, Ben Enwonwu, for GBP1.4m at Bonham’s was reportedly to a Nigerian collector.
Lovin’ the Groove
Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, who won a Grammy this year for the best world music album, is on our playlist with her classic 1994 hit, Agolo. In a beautiful sign of solidarity at a time when global award ceremonies are facing a backlash, Kidjo ended up dedicating her win to Nigerian afrobeat sensation, Burna Boy, whose absence from the list of winners caused controversy. Icons such as Naomi Campbell are leading the charge for Afrobeats to be recognised as a music genre in its own right. Rightly so.
All the way from down south, DJ Maphorisa has been making waves and is set to release another album early this year. Last year alone he released three albums, and five of his hit songs were among the top 10 most played songs on Spotify in South Africa. If you have no idea of what the genre ‘AmaPiano’ is all about, just play any Maphorisa 2019 song and get jamming!
Elaine! Elaine! Elaine – is one of Sabelo’s favourites for 2020! Elaine is South Africa’s upcoming artist to look forward to in 2020. She independently released her first 7-track album, Elements EP, last November and has already topped Apple Music’s Album Charts. At just 20 years of age, she has earned the Apple Music New Artist Spotlight for Sub-Saharan Africa. Her music is a mix of her youthful vibrancy infused with trap-soul and R&B.[1]
Africa’s largest electronic music concert, Ultra South Africa, is happening this February in Capetown and Johannesburg, South Africa. The two-day concert will feature the top electronic dance music (EDM) djs from all over the world such as Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Black Coffee and Dash Berlin.[2]
We Love a Long Walk
Meanwhile, we celebrate Ali, who’s preparing both mentally and physically for her climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in March...again. She admits that the first time she did the climb she was “severely underprepared” but this time around she has “decided to do it with intention. Intention not only to actually train this time, but particularly with intention as to why I am putting myself through this again - to fundraise in support of the charity that I work for, Youth Challenge International (YCI) - YCI develops creative, market-ready solutions that help youth around the world succeed”. If you’d like to walk the walk with her (if not in person, then in spirit!) please see here.