February 27, 2014
Culturally complex and multi-racial, with a highly charged history stretching back centuries, South Africa is one of the continent’s largest- and most productive- music industries. In this episode, Afropop will take you on a journey through the South Africa of ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/15054/south-africa-today/"> Read more »</a>
“Nice Shandee’s” Sibot featuring Okmalumkoolkat
April 09, 2014
South African DJ/producer Sibot got his start back in ’98 with hip-hop group Max Normal (brainchild of Waddy Jones, currently known as Ninja in Die Antwoord). Since then, he has become locally and internationally known for his thrilling live sets, won the South African ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/17828/nice-shandees-sibot-ft-okmalumkoolkat/"> Read more »</a>
Sharon Katz and the Peace Train Celebrate 20 Years at Joe’s Pub, April 26
April 18, 2014
For 22 years, singer and guitarist Sharon Katz has been at the forefront of a musical peace movement in South Africa. Since she was a teenager growing up in Port Elizabeth during apartheid, Sharon has been actively working against racial ... Read more »
Conflict & Justice
Why hearing Mandela's Rivonia speech is so powerful. It's not just the words, it's the sounds behind them
The World
April 18, 2014
South Africa kept recordings of Nelson Mandela's famous Rivonia speech. But no one could hear them because they were on dictabelts. And then South Africa's last remaining dictaphone machine broke.
The Lion(s) Sleep Tonight
April 23, 2014
As we explore in our special Hip Deep episode, “The Money Show,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is one of the most infamous cases of an African song being used for massive financial gain by the West. In 1939, Solomon Linda ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/18156/the-lions-sleep-tonight/"> Read more »</a>
Shamon Cassette: “Stick ‘Em” Video Premiere and Interview
April 24, 2014
Shamon Cassette, who teamed up with Spoek Mathambo on the outstanding Afro-futuristic hip-hop tape Wave Crusher last year, has graced us with the video premiere for his new track, “Stick ‘Em.” Shamon describes it as a “straight, gritty New York ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/18098/shamon-cassette-stick-em-video-premiere-interview/"> Read more »</a>
A.J. Holmes’ Classic Kwaito Mix
April 25, 2014
In honor of the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela taking office as the first post-apartheid leader of South Africa, A.J. Holmes has dropped a mix of classic kwaito from the mid ’90s and early ’00s. We covered some present-day kwaito ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/18214/afropop-premiere-a-j-holmes-classic-kwaito-mix/"> Read more »</a>
Video: iFani’s “iingoma Ezimnandi”
May 02, 2014
Although he has had his share of setbacks–including losing a major-label deal with Sony and getting carjacked and kidnapped– iFani has ascended quite rapidly to South African stardom. We covered that rise in last year’s “South Africa Today” program. After ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/18338/video-ifani-iingoma-ezimnandi/"> Read more »</a>
OkMalumKoolKat: Internet Jetset Zuper
May 05, 2014
South African rapper OkMalumKoolKat has released the single “Internet Jetset Zuper” as part of the Obey You Collective: South Africa Series from The Fader and Sprite. Oh yeah, it’s also his debut as a producer. Turn it up! We first featured ...<a class="meta-nav" href="http://www.afropop.org/wp/18356/okmalumkoolkat-internet-jetset-zuper/"> Read more »</a>
Education
UPDATE: After massive protests, South Africa freezes tuition hikes
GlobalPost
October 22, 2015
Updated
South Africa's president froze tuition hikes after violent confrontations between students and heavily armed police officers were broadcast live on national television. "The youth win!" one person responds on Twitter.
Education
A South African university sheds the language of apartheid
The World
November 13, 2015
Student protesters in South Africa are chalking up another victory in their "decolonization" campaign. Stellenbosch University, once a bastion of apartheid ideology, has agreed to stop teaching in Afrikaans and switch to English as the main language of instruction.