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(Photo by Tirivangani Masawi/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Tirivangani Masawi via Getty Images)

WINDHOEK, June 4, 2020 -- Members of Namibian parliament listen to President Hage Geingob delivering his state of the nation address in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, on June 4, 2020.

Namibian Government Rejects Germany's Offer of 'Reparations'

The Namibian government has rejected the recent offer of 'reparations' from its former German coloniser for the mass killings of the Herero and Nama people.

The Namibian government has reportedly rejected Germany's recent offer of "reparations" saying the offer needs to be "revised" before it is acceptable to them. It is also reported that the language that Germany has used, has also failed to resonate with what the Namibian government deem "reparations". Germany, which colonised the Southern African country for close to century until it obtained independence in 1990, was responsible for the mass killings of the Herero and Nama people by the German Imperial Troops. The European country only returned the skulls of 30 of those genocide victims towards the beginning of last year.

READ: An Apology is Not Enough: Germany, Genocide and the Limits of Reparations for Namibia

The negotiations between Namibia and Germany have been ongoing and began in 2015 after the government of the latter declared that it sought to reconcile with its colonial history and address the systemic injustices of the past.

According to the BBC, however, Namibian President Hage Geingob said in a statement:

"While the Namibian Government agreed to negotiate the issue of redress (reparations), which the German Government consistently referred to as "healing the wounds", Germany has declined to accept the term "reparations". This position, Ambassador Ngavirue explained is based on Germany's refusal to use the term "reparations" in negotiations with the Jews and the State of Israel, with the two parties settling on the term "Wiedergutmachung" (reconciliation and doing good again) in their agreement signed at Luxemburg in 1952...The current offer for reparations made by the German Government remains an outstanding issue and is not acceptable to the Namibian Government."

A special envoy from the Namibian government, led by Zed Ngavirue, will continue to negotiate for a "revised offer".

Last year, the German government announced that they would "return 15th-century Portuguese stone cross that has been in their possession since the colonial era, back to its original home in Namibia", writes OkayAfrica's Damola Durosomo. "The cross was a navigation landmark placed on the coastline of present-day Namibia in 1496, before it was taken in the late 17th century under German colonial rule,"according to BBC Africa.

Similarly, a motion was put forward by opposition parties in Tunisia to demand an acknowledgment and apology from France for its colonisation of the country. However, the motion was eventually rejected this year with some officials saying, "We are not going to feed Tunisians with such motions."

Global
Photo by Mohau Mannathoko on Unsplash.

Fun Places in Accra, Ghana to Visit This Weekend

From Happy Hour at Front/Back to “Special Sunday Mukaasie” at The Hangout, Accra is packed with places to have fun.

This week, relax and unwind with drinks and conversation at Front/Back’s Happy Hour, attend Oliver Twist Shack’s silent party, or make a quick trip to Kumasi for Praise Reloaded by Joe Mettle. Whatever your choice of fun is, here is a list of places to visit this weekend in Accra, Ghana.

Happy Hour at Front/Back

Front/Back is a club, bar, and restaurant that’s known as one of the most exclusive nightlife spots in Accra, and this week, they’re launching a brand new event - Happy Hour at Front/Back! Pass through from 6pm to 9pm for special discounts on Front/Back’s drink menu for your pre-weekend unwind.

Date: Wednesday, 7th June - Friday, 9th June, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Venue: Front/Back, Osu

'Think Pink, Go West' Museum Exhibition

The Institute Museum of Ghana is Ghana’s first contemporary art museum, and it’s the host to ‘Think Pink, Go West,’ the debut solo museum exhibition by Nigerian artist Samuel Olayombo. Curated by Fabiola Ondzouga, the exhibition highlights Samuel’s bid to examine the wider construct of gender roles and society’s complex relationship with masculinity through his art. Whether you're a collector, connoisseur, or just an appreciator of art, this event is for you.

Date: Thursday, 8th June - Saturday, 10th June, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Venue: Institute Museum of Ghana

Cost: Free

"Hush Hush" Silent Party at Oliver Twist Shack

This Saturday, Oliver Twist Shack will be hosting the second edition of Hush Hush - a silent party! In light of the current ban on noisemaking in Accra due to a traditional festival, Oliver Twist Shack have decided to bring back their signature silent party one last time before the ban is lifted. Bring your friends, rent a pair of headphones, and jam the night away in silence as the good people at Oliver Twist Shack provide all the vibes you need.

Date: Saturday, 10th June

Venue: Oliver Twist Shack

Cost: Free entry, GHS30 for headphones

Poetry Night at Porkyto's

Are you a lover of spoken word? “Fake Faces False Faces” is a night of poetry, music, and art, taking place at Portyko’s Restaurant this Saturday in Accra. Enjoy performances by some of Accra’s best spoken word talents, while enjoying treats from Portyko’s delectable menu.

Date: Saturday, 10th June

Venue: Portyko’s, Osu

Cost: Free

Central Region Daycation by The Get Out Ghana

Craving a getaway but don’t have time for a vacation? The Get Out Ghana has got you covered. Join them for their “daycation” to the Central Region this Saturday. There’ll be a myriad of activities, including kayaking, quad biking, soft archery, volleyball, board games, mini golf, and more. Book a slot now and join the bus from Accra for a day filled with fun!

Date: Saturday, 10th June, 8 a.m.

Venue: Departure from Accra Mall & West Hills Mall

Cost: GHS595

Praise Reloaded by Joe Mettle

Award-winning gospel singer Joe Mettle will be hosting his annual gospel music concert Praise Reloaded, this Sunday. The lineup is loaded with some of the best Ghanaian gospel stars as well as top Nigerian gospel singer Prospa Ochimana. If you’re a fan of gospel music and you don’t mind making a quick trip to Kumasi, this concert promises to be one for the books.

Date: Sunday, 11th June, 5 p.m.

Venue: CCC Kumasi

Cost: Ticket from GHS50

"Special Sunday Mukaasie" at The Hangout

The Hangout is a restaurant and bar located in the Spintex area of Accra and this Sunday, they will be hosting “Special Sunday Mukaasie”, a local cuisine buffet featuring all of Ghana’s beloved traditional delicacies. There will be a live band as well, so catch some vibes while eating to your fill this Sunday at The Hangout.

Date: Sunday, 11th June, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Venue: The Hangout, Spintex

Cost: GHS100

Music
(YouTube)

The Best Afrobeats Songs Right Now

Featuring tracks from Joeboy, Amaarae, Odumodublvck, Wande Coal, Wizkid, Ckay, and more.

Afrobeats is one of the biggest cultural movements in the world. Influencing everything from fashion to sports, the music acts as the adhesive, catching on to listeners of all demographics and shaping the scene in Africa with great potential. With the growing number of new Afrobeats releases every month, it becomes necessary to round up the best of the bunch. From singles to new music videos, the continent’s vast expanse will be covered in our "Best Afrobeats Songs Out Right Now" column. Get started below.

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Film
Screengrab from Disney+.

From Capetown to a Galaxy Far, Far Away: A South African Animation Studio Reimagines Star Wars

What started as a joint venture in 2015 has become a full-fledged working relationship, as Triggerfish Animation Studios cements its status as one of Disney’s most exciting collaborators.

In 2015, Disney, wanting to discover fresh voices in animation across Africa, stepped into a joint venture with Triggerfish Animation Studios to create Story Lab. It allowed the Cape Town-based company to gather aspiring writers, provide mentorship and logistical expertise to them, and help workshop ideas, all alongside Disney's creative teams. One of the standout projects that emerged from that original Story Lab was the preschool show Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes, which launched on Disney Junior, in collaboration with eOne, earlier this year. And there are more to come.

With their roots in South Africa, Triggerfish draws talent from the local creative pool while collaborating with artists, animators, and producers from various African countries. Its aim has always been to revolutionize the animation landscape by nurturing the next generation of talent. Founded in 1996 by Jacquie Trowell, and Emma Kaye, the studio was sold to Stuart Forrest and James Middleton in 2004. Forrest, a former colleague of the founders, has served as the studio’s CEO since then.

In 2016, The Highway Rat and Revolting Rhymes, two projects created with Magic Light and BBC One, established Triggerfish's reputation for delivering high-quality CG animation with a distinctive stop-motion aesthetic. This laid the groundwork for a future collaboration with Lucasfilm (whom Disney acquired in 2012) in the Star Wars universe with the short film Aau's Song, which recently premiered on Disney+. The blossoming relationship between Disney and Triggerfish also paved the way for Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, an African science fiction anthology featuring a diverse team of creators and African stories, set to premiere in July on Disney+.

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire - Teaser Trailerwww.youtube.com

"We owe an enormous amount to Disney for collaborating with us on Aau's Song, Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes, and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire," Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest told OkayAfrica. He emphasized the invaluable lessons gleaned from the experience, particularly Disney's emphasis on attention to detail, strong character development, and compelling storytelling.

While CG animation is at the core of Triggerfish's expertise, its creative endeavors extend beyond digital animation. They began with stop-motion animation, notably working on the African adaptation of Sesame Street called Takalani Sesame. As they evolved, they transitioned to CG animation for its cost-effectiveness and because of an abundance of CG animators.

Developing ‘Aau’s Song’

Triggerfish’s spirit of collaboration also brought co-writers and co-directors Daniel Clarke and Nadia Darries together to pitch the animated short film Aau’s Song to Lucasfilm when Star Wars came calling. The renowned production company, founded by filmmaker George Lucas and acquired by Disney in 2012, reached out to Triggerfish to work on a brief for the second season of Star Wars: Visions. Triggerfish turned to its network of creative talent. Aiming to pair more experienced creatives with newer talent, it asked Clarke which of the shortlisted projects he’d like to bring to life, and he immediately chose Darries’ pitch. “All of them were great,” Clarke says, “but Nadia’s really spoke to me.”

After revising the pitch further, Aau’s Song was chosen by Lucasfilm to be showcased as the penultimate story in Star Wars: Visions 2, and premiered on Disney+ on May 5, 2023. Every episode of the second season of the acclaimed series features a different country and a different animation team, with Triggerfish being the only African company participating.

Using a mixture of stop-motion animation style of 3D animation, viewers are pulled into Korba, a planet once rich in “Force-attuned” kyber crystals used to create Jedi lightsabers. An ancient order of the Sith poisons it, leaving the kyber corrupted. Aau's father, Abat, is a master miner who helps locate and restore the corrupted kyber with the aid of a Jedi named Kratu – one crystal at a time. Aau, a force-sensitive young girl with an elemental connection to Korba’s land, can communicate with the crystals through song.

An image still from 'Aua's Song' of one character leaning down to touch another on its shoulder.Daniel Clarke and Nadia Darries at Star Wars Celebration 2023.Photo courtesy Disney+.

If Aau's Song's character designs feel like animated plush toys wrapped in Basotho blankets, that’s on purpose. The initial concept for Aau was actually a mix of both African and Japanese designs. “The bold color blocking and wrapped blankets of the characters were [inspired by] South African Ndebele dolls,” says Clarke. “We were also inspired by the stuffed bears from the Japanese stop-motion series Rilakkuma and Kaoru,” he adds.

Aau’s Song’s simple plot is just as layered and influenced by the region. “There are two parts to the inspiration for Aau’s Song,” Darries says. “First, there’s the singing aspect, and then there’s a connection to the land.”

Darries, who, in addition to writing and directing, is also a singer/songwriter, wanted Aau to connect to the kyber crystals on a spiritual level through music. “South Africa is so multicultural, but what a lot of us have in common is singing and chanting to connect to each other, to the spirit and the land,” Darries says. "Even when we protest, we sing and dance.”

“The idea of poisoned kyber [crystals] came quite late in the story process,” Clarke says. “But that's how we connect to the [larger] Star Wars universe. We wanted to explore a land that has somehow been tortured, and is calling out for healing.” The depleted gold mines of South Africa came to mind when Clarke mentioned this particular point. “We wanted [to capture] the notion that young people can connect to [the land] with their voices in some way and heal it,” he says.

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 | Official Trailer | Disney+www.youtube.com

Speaking of voices, one of the perks of working with a company as large as Disney is access to stellar voice talent, and Aau’s Song is no different. Little Aau’s speaking voice is by Mpilo Jantjie, and her singing voice is by Dineo du Toit. In addition, Aau's father, Abat, is played by Tumisho Masha, and the Tony-winning Cynthia Erivo voices the mysterious Jedi Master Kratu.

Although all of the characters are personal to the creative team, Kratu is one of their favorites, “The Jedi in the film is inspired by my cousin— an ngoma or shaman,” Darries says. “We wanted [her to have] this sort of soft, unassuming power,” Clarke adds. “But in the end, we show how strong she is.”

Often in animation, the final product appears deceptively simple. However, the process of creating an animated short of this caliber is anything but. The detailed process requires every frame, sound, and light source to be built within a computer. “I kid you not, we probably had six hours of meetings just about grass,” Clarke says.

So much more to come

In 2020, Triggerfish launched a second studio in Galway, Ireland, drawing talent from the local creative pool of both the European and South Africa locations.“We’ve been really lucky to have extended our African base of creative talent, working with animators, artists, and producers from Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, over the past few years,” Forrest says. “They have added fresh direction and a wonderful sense of inspiration to our work.”

That inspiration continues to expand, with the company publishing graphic novels, too. Clarke conceived and illustrated the title, Kariba, a fantasy comic that draws inspiration from the folklore of the Zambezi River and the construction of the Kariba Dam.

And Triggerfish isn’t slowing down anytime soon — the 10-part anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire will be out this month on Disney+. The company also has a new series premiering on Netflix, which sponsored a second Story Lab with Triggerfish in 2021. Called Supa Team 4, it’s the first African animated series for the streaming network. Triggerfish has more projects in the works with major Hollywood studios that the company has to be tight-lipped about, for now.

Interview

Black Sherif, Africa’s Young Bright Black Star

We trail the Ghanaian superstar as he plays his first sold-out show in New York City.

“I leave my art to breathe. I don't apply no pressure,” Black Sherif shares one of his many philosophical principles with me in the OkayAfrica offices. The 21-year-old Ghanaian newcomer has only been professionally releasing music since 2019 but he has already become the youngest singer to win Artist of the Year at the 2023 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

He reacts to the news with a boyishly shy grin: “It’s mad.”

Last October, his breakthrough album The Villian I Never Was cemented him as a rising talent to watch. The sonic palette of his debut showcased an eclectic fusion of drill, Afrobeats, reggae, and hip-hop. Critical acclaim abounded, as well as collaborations with the likes of Popcaan and Burna Boy.

For as long as the West has smeared Africa with allegations of archaic laws and culture, Black Sherif has become the young bright Black star of what has been derogatorily referred to as the “dark continent.”

Uniting the Diaspora

Three nights earlier I had the opportunity to witness his electrifying stage presence firsthand. Palladium Times Square, New York City — stop number one of Black Sherif’s headlining tour and a long way from Konongo. Usually, concerts will open with a lesser-known artist from the same label, this one had about 20 acts.

From Nigeria and Ghana to Liberia and New York City, the diaspora united on and off stage. No one quite knew when the main act would arrive but the audience was too pleasantly tipsy to notice how much time had passed. At one point it seemed like the hosts were plucking attendees from the audience to perform — a real communal affair. Still, the crowd became restless waiting for Blacko, whose name they cheered in between pulls of smuggled cigarettes and blunts. When he burst on stage with a raucous performance of “Kwaku the Traveller,” the security guards were too enraptured to catch those health code violations.

Even without the pyrotechnics, Black Sherif commanded the stage with the combined energy of the 20 preceding artists.

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