Review: In Pursuit: Journeys in African Entrepreneurship by Chukuka Chukuma and Osaretin Oswald Guobadia

Chukuma and Guobadia 978-1734752304 --- 192 Pages; First Printing: July 2020

In Pursuit is a companion book. One should have a copy in their briefcase, backpack or e-reader at all times. At first look the cover literally knocks one out. It is a striking cover that features use of Nigeria's flag colors: green and white on a 

stark red background with white lettering. The image of a 

weary business traveler being knocked from all sides 

encapsulates the themes, lessons and stories exchanged 

between the two authors.

The authors -- Chukuka Chukuma and Osaretin Oswald Guobadia -- take us on a journey through time, not chronologically but the way business moves. Chukuma and Guobadia manage to slow down the pace with conversational outtakes that position them as business partners and comrades in a quest to introduce readers worldwide on the opportunities Africa, particularly Nigeria, offers for entrepreneurs looking to broaden their horizon.

Review -- Creative Tension, Season 2 by Reverend Elliott Robinson

Creative Tension, Season 2 (Elliott Robinson)

With the tagline "where we give a voice to people in periods of struggle forgotten by history", the podcast, Creative Tension is reminiscent of the current affairs and community-focused television shows hosted by Tony Brown and Gil Noble. "Tony Brown's Journal" and "Like It Is" were weekly and non-episodic; both shows tackled issues that impacted the Black community.

Creative Tension - hosted by Reverend Elliott Robinson - takes a similar approach, except it has episodic seasons and is theme-focused. 

Review: #blackAF Created by Kenya Barris; Netflix

#blackAF Created by Kenya Barris; Netflix; First episode date: April 17, 2020
   
Television Shorts

#blackAF:

...is #broadAF and #messyAF. It is what you get when art is well-crafted versus manicured. Usually when creators get so technically astute in their medium, the tendency is to present what is, in essence, perfect little products. #blackAF goes way away from that. The series layers many styles on top of each other: mockumentary, reality TV, family sitcom and a historical narrative that is presented in documentary fashion. The episodes cover a broad range of topics with no delineation whether this is a straight shot, satire or parody.

The first four episodes deal directly with the "white gaze" and truthfully it took me halfway through the second episode to buy in. By the fifth episode, #blackAF affirmatively answers the question with a resounding: If the creator of the product or the product itself is rooted and knowledgeable of black culture then they deserve our support. 

What makes this most effective is the addendum that is added and how the white gaze is turned upon itself. From there, the final three episodes firmly focus on the family - the parenting and the marriage. With the shackles fully off -  on really the viewer#blackAF presents the freest representation of a black family ever shown on television.

It is full of terrible parenting, a marriage filled with constant sniping and more. What makes this spectacular is how the show tackles gender confusion, doubts on sexual identity, toxic masculinity, rabid feminism and more without turning into a navel-gazing exercise.

As much as I would watch a second season, #blackAF is the equivalent of walk-off home run in black creativity. 

Recommendation: HIGHEST

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Reviewed by Guichard Cadet