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Reflections

On artists commodifying the revolution and Black power

“Motivate your ass call me Malcolm X” “I’m Malcolm X” “Mansa Musa reincarnated” “I just might be a Black Bill Gates in the making” If you’re a Hive like me, you’ll recognise these Beyoncé’s (and Jay-Z’) lyrics. Her 2016 Superbowl performance was deemed controversial by many: the police and white supremacists who deemed it a […]

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African history Reflections

Oppressor like me

In 1622 Queen Nzinga went to Luanda to negociate peace treaties with the Portuguese. De Sousa, the governor, refused to give her a seat and instead offered her a mat. Refusing to be humiliated in front of him, Nzinga had a servant kneel down for her so that she could sit on his back. Many […]