This is the first of a two-part blog post titled Black on Both Sides. I’m sure the Hip-Hop aficionados remember and probably still play Black on Both Sides, Mos Def’s classic break out album, right? Mos Def or should I say Yasiin Bey now, as he changed his name recently hasn’t been bringing the classics lately but his shit was hot fire when [...]
Anime & Africa
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 16th, 2013 By wabona
At some point in your life you have heard the names One Piece, Naruto, or Bleach if not then definitely these Digimon, Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z. Growing up some of us didn’t know these cartoons were a subculture of Anime.
I’ll approach this post on the chances that the majority of our community are oblivious to the movement, I’ll describe it from scratch. Anime is Japanese style animation and storytellings, which are essentially cartoons but not really. For one the subject matter, tone, and approach to anime is of a much broader scale encompassing not only child viewers but adolescents and adults. In itself anime is very popular in Japan. However in recent years Anime and its culture has exploded. From being isolated on the Japanese archipelago to spread like wildfire over entire world, finding its home in the hearts of viewers from every walk of life. (Once it has been translated into their respective languages).
Like most things, Africa is the last populated continent to catch onto new things but luckily with the omnipresence of the internet - the gap is slimming. The most recent of these things is the popularity of said Anime movement. This movement started slowly in South Africa with the South African Broadcasting Service SABC introduced titles likes of Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z and a few others – the youth were illuminated with their first taste of the not quite cartoons. This then expanded to the DSTV, which introduced the Syfy Channel and its myriad of titles aimed at a more mature audience of the teens and young adults. Then there Animax, a channel purely focused on Anime, which didn’t last long leaving die-hard fans and fresh enthusiast to find other means of entertainment.
Anime is my passion, rich with colour and complex stories. More often than not I see Anime in my life, with its brightly colored and well detailed eyes, with the vibrant expressions and intricately woven back stories, these heroes and heroines have spawned fans and inspired them to band together and relate over their common interest, from hosting Cons (conventions) across the continent, to Japanese art style competitions and even cosplaying as their favorite characters – it’s easy to see the depths of their adoration for the art form.
Whether it’s Naruto’s never give up attitude or Ichigo’s ability to overcome adversity, I’m sure a lot of fans would be willing to pay for a slice of TV-Tokyo, or Toonami in their homes.
Anime, its all I see sometimes.
-Bill (@thebootingoan)
Bill is a Rhodes University, South Africa undergraduate. He is a writer, blogger, former rapper. His favourite shows are Community, Breaking Bad, Doctor Who and a whole load of anime. The first TV show he watched was Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light. He is a comic book artist currently writing the series, Captain South Africa.
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Black on Both Sides Part 1
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Wabona launches Subscription Service
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Today we are proud to announce that we are launching a subscription service for all our users. For US$5.99 per month you will get unlimited access to all our TV shows and films. We have redesigned the Wabona website and we are launching this new service with some new West African films on Wabona. We want to make [...]
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Back in the Day Soapies
Posted in Wabona,What's going On on April 2nd, 2013 By wabona
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Simba on Game of Thrones
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