ZAM x Open Art Exchange
Between Here and Now
Produced over eleven years in Mali and Mauritania, the film offers a unique first-person account of Tuareg history and culture against a backdrop of conflict and exile. It is a story of transmission and memory, where the intimate meets the political, and the first film to portray the Tuareg world from within. Undertows is a hieratic journey by filmmaker Intagrist el Ansari into the memory of his people. Framed as an intimate letter and testament to his son, it recounts the history of resistance and...
Produced over eleven years in Mali and Mauritania, the film offers a unique first-person account of Tuareg history and culture against a backdrop of conflict and exile. It is a story of transmission and memory, where the intimate meets the political, and the first film to portray...
(For English, read below) Uitnodiging – Opening Between Here and Now ZAM Magazine en Open Art Exchange nodigen je van harte uit voor de opening van de tentoonstelling en de Glitching the Future livestream symposium. Between Here and Now 11 – 19 oktober 2025 bij Open Art Exchange Hoogstraat 85, Schiedam, Nederland Between Here and Now is een multidisciplinaire tentoonstelling van Afrikaanse kunstenaars binnen en buiten de Afrikaanse diaspora. Het “now” betreft de actuele ervaring van migratie en...
(For English, read below) Uitnodiging – Opening Between Here and Now ZAM Magazine en Open Art Exchange nodigen je van harte uit voor de opening van de tentoonstelling en de Glitching the Future livestream symposium. Between Here and Now 11 – 19 oktober 2025 bij Open Art Exchange...
In 1955, now seventy years ago, the Bandung Conference took place in Indonesia. Initiated by Indian Prime Minister Nehru and Indonesian President Sukarno, twenty-nine newly independent African and Asian countries committed themselves to a charter emphasising ‘respect for fundamental human rights’. The conference’s then Secretary-General, Ruslan Abdulgani, spoke of the ‘Bandung Spirit’: a call for peace and a declaration of war on violence and discrimination. The gathering ultimately gave rise to...
In 1955, now seventy years ago, the Bandung Conference took place in Indonesia. Initiated by Indian Prime Minister Nehru and Indonesian President Sukarno, twenty-nine newly independent African and Asian countries committed themselves to a charter emphasising ‘respect for fundamental...
Draagt een culturele boycot van officiële Israelische instituties bij aan het Palestijnse streven naar zelfbeschikking? In Nieuwsuur reflecteerde ZAM redacteur Bart Luirink op de ervaringen van zo’n boycot in de strijd tegen apartheid. Na het bloedbad van Sharpeville in maart 1960 riepen de Verenigde Naties op tot een boycot van Zuid-Afrika. In Nederland pleitten de eerste activisten tegen de apartheid, waaronder de latere burgemeester van Amsterdam Ed van Thijn, voor economische strafmaatregelen...
Draagt een culturele boycot van officiële Israelische instituties bij aan het Palestijnse streven naar zelfbeschikking? In Nieuwsuur reflecteerde ZAM redacteur Bart Luirink op de ervaringen van zo’n boycot in de strijd tegen apartheid. Na het bloedbad van Sharpeville in maart 1960...
The LGBTQIA+ community in Burkina Faso responds with shock to lawmakers’ decision to recriminalise consensual same-sex sexual relationships. On 1 September 2025, all 71 MPs in Burkina Faso voted to adopt a new Persons and Family Code. Under the amended Code, anyone convicted of engaging in homosexual activity now faces between two and five years in prison, or a fine ranging from $3,600 to $17,800. Burkina Faso’s Justice Minister, Edasso Rodrique Bayala, told the national broadcaster RTB that “if a...
The LGBTQIA+ community in Burkina Faso responds with shock to lawmakers’ decision to recriminalise consensual same-sex sexual relationships. On 1 September 2025, all 71 MPs in Burkina Faso voted to adopt a new Persons and Family Code. Under the amended Code, anyone convicted of...
Neo Matloga’s new solo exhibition is about resilience – not the kind we shout about, but the quiet kind. The kind found in small rituals, in the decision to show up again. These are portraits of everyday courage. For his first exhibition in Johannesburg since 2020, Matloga presents a tableau of quiet figures witnessed in moments of daily life between Johannesburg and Mamaila, the village where he grew up. The artist describes his paintings as “psychological landscapes,” in which the range of...
Neo Matloga’s new solo exhibition is about resilience – not the kind we shout about, but the quiet kind. The kind found in small rituals, in the decision to show up again. These are portraits of everyday courage. For his first exhibition in Johannesburg since 2020, Matloga presents...
Ana's journey from nothing to nowhere On 18 April, for fear of creating hotbeds of COVID 19 contagion, a Mexico City judge ordered the release of migrants from sixty-five overcrowded immigration centres in the country. By the end of that month, with both the northern and southern border lines under lockdown, the Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) estimated that over twenty thousand migrants were now stranded around border lines; under the lockdown, even appointments to identify refugees are...
Ana's journey from nothing to nowhere On 18 April, for fear of creating hotbeds of COVID 19 contagion, a Mexico City judge ordered the release of migrants from sixty-five overcrowded immigration centres in the country. By the end of that month, with both the northern and southern...
The transnational investigation into the recruitment of African young women for Russia’s Alabuga drone site (see link to main story) was conducted by investigative journalists from seven African countries. They are featured below. Charles Mafa began the investigation in response to the mixed messaging received by the public in his home country, Zambia, caught between an intensive propaganda campaign and recruitment drive for Alabuga on one side, and troubling international reports on the other. He...
The transnational investigation into the recruitment of African young women for Russia’s Alabuga drone site (see link to main story) was conducted by investigative journalists from seven African countries. They are featured below. Charles Mafa began the investigation in response to...
Instead of young Africans trading their dreams for a place in someone else’s war, the international community should embrace them. International reports have addressed Russia’s recruitment of young African women for its Alabuga military-industrial zone, 1,000 km east of Moscow, as a ‘trap,’ based on false information and fake promises. Our recent investigation confirmed that much of the content in campaigns that reached tens of thousands in our countries was indeed false. Alabuga is not a school,...
Instead of young Africans trading their dreams for a place in someone else’s war, the international community should embrace them. International reports have addressed Russia’s recruitment of young African women for its Alabuga military-industrial zone, 1,000 km east of Moscow, as a...
Credible and licensed agents Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, recently appealed to Kenyans to verify every job opportunity they come across. “The National Employment Authority can inform you about credible and licensed agents,” Njogu was quoted as saying, adding, “We are still seeing Kenyans using travel agents and tour companies in an attempt to find jobs abroad; however, these are not licensed operators.” The goal Njogu purported to embrace—proper control of...
Credible and licensed agents Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, recently appealed to Kenyans to verify every job opportunity they come across. “The National Employment Authority can inform you about credible and licensed agents,” Njogu was quoted as...
It’s easy to fall back on ‘the spectacle of suffering,’ but we need to examine the reasons behind the drama, argues Africa Is a Country editor William Shoki. By now, we’ve all seen the images from Gaza: starving children, skeletal arms, babies so thin they resemble ghosts. Rightly, the world has turned its attention to this horror, however belatedly. What is harder to explain is why Sudan’s starvation crisis—equally urgent and equally human—barely registers in the global imagination. Why does it...
It’s easy to fall back on ‘the spectacle of suffering,’ but we need to examine the reasons behind the drama, argues Africa Is a Country editor William Shoki. By now, we’ve all seen the images from Gaza: starving children, skeletal arms, babies so thin they resemble ghosts. Rightly,...
Left behind Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties returning...
Left behind Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports said that the recruits—from at...
A dodgy channel Late last year, the world was alerted to disturbing reports that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties...
A dodgy channel Late last year, the world was alerted to disturbing reports that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the...
Trafficking station Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
Trafficking station Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the...
Sixteen unseen girls Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties...
Sixteen unseen girls Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports also said that the...
Looking for Oceanne Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that, once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
Looking for Oceanne Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also said that the...
First contact Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow. The reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
First contact Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow. The reports also said that the...
Caught in the snow Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to go and manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound a thousand km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least fifteen African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training but, once there, were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance,...
Caught in the snow Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to go and manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound a thousand km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also stated...
African governments collude with the Russian recruitment of young women into its arms industry Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow, called the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least fifteen African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they...
African governments collude with the Russian recruitment of young women into its arms industry Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound...
[tekst in het Nederlands hieronder] Recently, American media reported on discussions between Israel and several African countries regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians displaced from their land. Although official spokespeople claim to be unaware of such talks, it appears plausible that countries such as Sudan, Somaliland, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Chad, and the DRC are considering this option. US President Trump has previously entertained the idea, describing the West African...
[tekst in het Nederlands hieronder] Recently, American media reported on discussions between Israel and several African countries regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians displaced from their land. Although official spokespeople claim to be unaware of such talks, it...
In the last few weeks, the genocide in Gaza has been framed as a problem of starvation. From global leaders to social media influencers to celebrities, everyone seems to have woken up to ‘what is happening in Gaza.’ And for some reason the word ‘starvation’ seems easier to say than genocide. Though the Israeli government continues to deny Western media access to Gaza, in the last few weeks mainstream publications that have worked painstakingly hard to ignore the genocide and to parrot Israeli...
In the last few weeks, the genocide in Gaza has been framed as a problem of starvation. From global leaders to social media influencers to celebrities, everyone seems to have woken up to ‘what is happening in Gaza.’ And for some reason the word ‘starvation’ seems easier to say than...
