• Abel Shifferaw

Stories by Abel Shifferaw

6 Samples From 'Éthiopiques' in Hip-Hop
Music

6 Samples From 'Éthiopiques' in Hip-Hop

A brief history of Ethio-jazz cultural exchange featuring songs by Nas & Damian Marley, K'naan, Madlib and more.

The Forgotten '70s Ethiopian Funk and Soul of Ayalew Mesfin
Latest

The Forgotten '70s Ethiopian Funk and Soul of Ayalew Mesfin

Unheard Ethio-grooves from 1970s Addis Ababa released by Now Again Records and Vinyl Me, Please.

This Beautiful Congolese Jazz Collaboration Is The Best Thing You'll See This Week
Video

This Beautiful Congolese Jazz Collaboration Is The Best Thing You'll See This Week

You need to watch Flockey Ocscor and BADBADNOTGOOD's new collaborative video.

Hailu Mergia Is Releasing His First New Album In 15 Years
Latest

Hailu Mergia Is Releasing His First New Album In 15 Years

Hear the lead single from the Ethiopian keyboard and accordion virtuoso's forthcoming album Lala Belu.

Protest sign saying abolish the prison industrial complex. From toward liberation.
News

Abolish the Police, Now!

An interview Mohamed Shehk from Critical Resistance on what we mean when we say abolish police and prisons

Hundreds of police stand in formation wearing ceremonial uniforms.
News

The Police Are Cool, Totally Kidding They Are the Worst

Op Ed: Abolishing the criminal injustice system is the only way forward.

Death To Fascism, Then and Now: How Ethiopia Fought Back Against Mussolini
News

Death To Fascism, Then and Now: How Ethiopia Fought Back Against Mussolini

Ethiopians were the first to fight fascism. With right wing nationalism on the rise again we can take a page from their book.

Africa Will Be a Little Too Lit If We Don’t Do Something—a Conversation on Climate Change
News

Africa Will Be a Little Too Lit If We Don’t Do Something—a Conversation on Climate Change

We speak with Lerato Letebele, of the climate change organization 350, about how climate change is impacting the continent, and what we can do to help fight it.

Dr Umar photo alongside Egyptian hieroglyphics, an ankh, the illuminati symbol and a map of Africa.
Film + TV

Hotep Watch: The Mysterious Connection Between Hoteps and Hotels

In our first edition of Hotep Watch, we connect the dots between Dr Umar Johnson, the Illuminati and Paris Hilton

No Borders: What You Need To Know When Visiting Havana, Cuba
Travel

No Borders: What You Need To Know When Visiting Havana, Cuba

Traveling While Black: where to stay, what to see and what to avoid doing while visiting Havana, Cuba.

Mulatu Astatke’s Gorgeous 1972 Ethio-Jazz Album Has Been Reissued
Latest

Mulatu Astatke’s Gorgeous 1972 Ethio-Jazz Album Has Been Reissued

Mulatu Astatke’s classic Ethio-jazz album, 'Mulatu of Ethiopia,' never ceases to captivate. The LP's been newly reissued by Strut Records.

“I Told Her Yene Fikir Just to Dick Her,” This Toronto Singer's "Habaesha" Video Is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Video

“I Told Her Yene Fikir Just to Dick Her,” This Toronto Singer's "Habaesha" Video Is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ramriddlz, another incarnation of the Drake-sponsored Toronto sound ting is back with the visuals for “Habaesha.”

This Is A Review Where I Write About How I Think ‘DAMN.’ Is Pretty Good—A Classic Perhaps
Audio

This Is A Review Where I Write About How I Think ‘DAMN.’ Is Pretty Good—A Classic Perhaps

I’ll go ahead and give Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' 9 and a half of Tupac’s bandanas out of 10.

This Week In White American Crime: Hate Crimes
Controversial

This Week In White American Crime: Hate Crimes

The second entry in our series, This Week in White American Crime, focuses on one of the more pathological variants of white crime: hate crimes.

This Week in White American Crime
News

This Week in White American Crime

A non-exhaustive list of the exhaustive crimes committed by white male U.S. citizens.

Yasiin Bey Channels Basquiat In His New Album 'December 99th,' But Falls Short
Latest

Yasiin Bey Channels Basquiat In His New Album 'December 99th,' But Falls Short

Yasiin Bey & Ferrari Shepard's 'December 99th' feels like a producer and vocalist blindly reaching in the dark.