In the words of George Orwell...
“In a peaceful age, I might have written ornate or merely descriptive books"...
Dear readers,
The title to this newsletter was brought back to my mind as I was reading online a mention of this incredible writer, an inspiration for most (serious) journalists.
Here is the complete quote from George Orwell, as he penned it for his essay Why I Write (complete text available here):
“In a peaceful age I might have written ornate or merely descriptive books, and might have remained almost unaware of my political loyalties. As it is I have been forced into becoming a sort of pamphleteer.”
In the text, he referred to the Spanish civil war and of course World War Two but also some fighting in Burma, among the British Empire…
I don’t think ever in my lifetime have I been aware of so many conflicts at the same time.
From protesting against the war in Iraq in 2023, to marching in support of Syrian refugees in 2015/16, with Extinction Rebellion, and more recently against massacres of civilians in Palestine and Lebanon, it is hard to find time for beauty and joy. There is just too much going wrong!
Meanwhile, beyond open wars, there is also a war against our planet, against the environment and against the climate.
This week, to do my parts for increased awareness, I dedicated my podcast episode to the situation in Ghana, West Africa, as it crawles under textile waste…
Ghana grapples with crisis caused by world's throwaway fashion
Issued on: 18/10/2024
This week's podcast focuses on textile waste from fast fashion. As cheap clothes from China, Asia and Europe increasingly end up in West Africa, pollution is rising – particularly in Ghana. RFI spoke to Greenpeace Africa investigators to understand the scale of the issue and how to combat it.
Ghana is being swamped by millions of unwanted clothes from the West, creating an environmental disaster as textile waste piles up across the country.
Listen from here, on our RFI website: https://www.rfi.fr/en/podcasts/spotlight-on-africa/20241018-ghana-grapples-with-crisis-caused-by-world-s-throwaway-fashion
Or from Apple podcast here.
For those of you who prefer YouTube:
Artistic exchange beyond colonial ties
Meanwhile, this week and the coming one, I’m still continuing conversations with engaged artists.
Here is one that took me on new paths:
Artistic exchange between Brazil and Angola aims to reclaim colonial ties
For the first time in its 73-year history, the Sao Paulo Biennial is taking artworks to the African continent with a travelling showcase in Angola. The event's curators told RFI they hope the project will highlight long-standing correspondences between Angola and Brazil, united by a shared colonial past.
Issued on: 12/10/2024
By: Melissa Chemam
The 35th Biennial is the first to go to Africa as part of the travelling exhibitions programme established by the Sao Paulo show, one of the biggest art events in the southern hemisphere.
After touring cities in Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, it is on display in Angolan capital Luanda until December 2024.
Brazil, which was a Portuguese colony from 1500 to 1825, was the first country to recognise Angola's independence from Portugal in January 1975.
And now, as Angola prepares to celebrate 50 years of independence, the Brazilian biennial wanted to focus on the cultural links between the South American powerhouse and the largest Portuguese-speaking country in Africa.
October is officially dedicated to 'black history' in the UK, but all year long black cultures and history matter.
My eyes were mesmerised by one artwork in particular when I was in Venice, and here is an insight:
John Akomfrah's 'Listening All Night To The Rain' - Venice Biennale 2024 British Pavilion
Talking about engaged artist, here is a musician I loved meeting and interviewing:
Cameroon's Blick Bassy seeks to unite new generation of African music makers
Composer, singer and songwriter Blick Bassy makes music that celebrates his multiple identities: as a Cameroonian living in France, a polyglot, a travelling artist, and a Pan-Africanist. RFI met him in Paris to discuss his latest album, as well as a new project to unite music makers from across the African continent.
Issued on: 29/09/2024
By: Melissa Chemam
Born in Cameroon, Bassy now lives between Africa and Europe, where he has been touring intensely since the summer.
"My latest album talks about how we can live on Earth even though we are facing the fact that we cut our relationship with the big living family," he told me.
Read more here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/culture/20240929-cameroon-s-blick-bassy-seeks-to-unite-new-generation-of-african-music-makers
Finally, an announcement for my friends in Bristol and anyone interesting in joining us:
Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2024
📽️📽️🍉🍉 Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2024 programme is live 🍉🍉📽️📽️
Tickets at https://bristolpff.org.uk/
This year’s festival takes place 30 November - 8 December at Arnolfini Arts, Watershed Cinema, Palestine Museum Bristol and The Cube Microplex.
This year they have a huge lineup of 14 events, including From Ground Zero (2024), Reem Kelani live, The Teacher (2023), To a Land Unknown (2024) and Thank You for Banking with Us! (2024).
Plus olive oil tasting, shorts, director Q&As, panel discussions and a club night.
They are showcasing a wide selection of Palestinian arts, music, film and DJs across our programme this year as testament to the vibrancy and endurance of Palestine despite the horrors of ongoing war.
This year the BPFF is collecting donations for Haneen Koraz and @filmlabpal
Full programme and tickets from www.bristolpff.org.uk
📅 30 November - 8 December 2024
Thanks a lot for opening this post, reading, sharing…
With my best wishes,
melissa
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Melissa Chemam
Journalist, Writer & Audio Producer
@ RFI English, New Arab, Byline Times...
My blog: https://melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaChemam