Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea

Equatoguineans may not have much to celebrate on independence day: They've been free from colonialism since 1968, but the current ruler has been in power since 1979.

Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea (Flickr CC).

What’s to celebrate on independence day in the land of the current chairperson of the African Union? Not much, when reading what Guinean writer (in exile) Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel publishes on his blog. Or it should be the construction of those presidential villas, mitigated by them apparently being put to use during next year’s African Nations Cup. Let’s try it anyway.

Melitón Pablo Mangué tells us Guineans are dancing to Mbini’s “Misek Bi Nnem” and Antorcha De Zaragoza’s “Nza Ve Me Nnom” at the moment, although the videos haven’t surfaced on the net yet — let us know when you find them. Recent hits that do come with a video are: Fifi La Mirey’s ‘Angon Osok‘, Luis Mbomio’s shiny Faya Faya, among others.

Then there’s like “Bicomsua” by Tawola Mesam and Sandra Star and ‘Mi Cosa‘.

Yuma is throwing a party.

And some Equatoguinean Spanish hip hop to end this music break. (Spanish is one of the country’s two official languages – French being the other one). It is Verso Roto’s “Arte Sagrado.” (On hip hop:  Here‘s a good blog to follow up on what’s new in Equatorial Guinea hip hop.)

Further Reading

No one should be surprised we exist

The documentary film, ‘Rolé—Histórias dos Rolezinhos’ by Afro-Brazilian filmmaker Vladimir Seixas uses sharp commentary to expose social, political, and cultural inequalities within Brazilian society.

Kenya’s stalemate

A fundamental contest between two orders is taking place in Kenya. Will its progressives seize the moment to catalyze a vision for social, economic, and political change?

More than a building

The film ‘No Place But Here’ uses VR or 360 media to immerse a viewer inside a housing occupation in Cape Town. In the process, it wants to challenge gentrification and the capitalist logic of home ownership.