Rod Alence
@ralence.bsky.social
Politics and political economy of Africa, based at Wits University in Johannesburg.
David Byrne's American Utopia - I Zimbra (Live on Colbert, 2021)
YouTube video by Oh No Compassion
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 22: A song that builds slowly
Still timely 45 years later, with the best slow-stick-solo intro ever.
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 22: A song that builds slowly
Still timely 45 years later, with the best slow-stick-solo intro ever.
Gang of Four - "He'd Send In The Army" (LIVE) - Old Grey Whistle Test (1981)
YouTube video by Gang Of Four 77-81
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 9:13 PM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 22: A song that builds slowly
Still timely 45 years later, with the best slow-stick-solo intro ever.
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 22: A song that builds slowly
Still timely 45 years later, with the best slow-stick-solo intro ever.
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
One song, two versions.
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
One song, two versions.
Jimi Hendrix - The Star Spangled Banner [ National Anthem ] ( Live at Woodstock 1969 )
YouTube video by Looky Lambert
youtu.be
January 20, 2026 at 9:21 PM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
One song, two versions.
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
One song, two versions.
#MusicSky
#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 20 - Song that introduced you to a new genre
West African highlife (the song is still a Mother's Day staple on Nigerian radio, I'm told)
#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 20 - Song that introduced you to a new genre
West African highlife (the song is still a Mother's Day staple on Nigerian radio, I'm told)
Prince Nico Mbarga Sweet Mother
YouTube video by visualito
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 9:48 PM
#MusicSky
#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 20 - Song that introduced you to a new genre
West African highlife (the song is still a Mother's Day staple on Nigerian radio, I'm told)
#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 20 - Song that introduced you to a new genre
West African highlife (the song is still a Mother's Day staple on Nigerian radio, I'm told)
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 19: A song that feels happy but has sad lyrics
"🎶Everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beau-ti-ful.🎶"
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 19: A song that feels happy but has sad lyrics
"🎶Everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beau-ti-ful.🎶"
They Might Be Giants - Don't Let's Start (official version)
YouTube video by ParticleMen
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 9:07 PM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 19: A song that feels happy but has sad lyrics
"🎶Everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beau-ti-ful.🎶"
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
Day 19: A song that feels happy but has sad lyrics
"🎶Everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beau-ti-ful.🎶"
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 17: A song that captures pure anger
youtu.be/KvgCIDbj6gQ?...
#MusicSky
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 17: A song that captures pure anger
youtu.be/KvgCIDbj6gQ?...
Elvis Costello & the Attractions - I'm Not Angry - 5/5/1978 - Capitol Theatre (Official)
YouTube video by Elvis Costello on MV
youtu.be
January 17, 2026 at 6:53 AM
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 17: A song that captures pure anger
youtu.be/KvgCIDbj6gQ?...
#MusicSky
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
Day 17: A song that captures pure anger
youtu.be/KvgCIDbj6gQ?...
Nice linguistic caveat in the preface to a 1960 academic book about Ghana published in the US: "Some English words used by Ghanaians but not by Americans have been retained."
November 28, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Nice linguistic caveat in the preface to a 1960 academic book about Ghana published in the US: "Some English words used by Ghanaians but not by Americans have been retained."
Xi goes up to eleven.
October 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Xi goes up to eleven.
Until the WH renovations are done?
Bullion markets breath sigh of relief after Trump says gold will not face tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would not impose tariffs on gold, a move welcomed by global bullion markets and which ended days of speculation that the yellow metal could be caught up in the ongoing global trade spat.
www.reuters.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Until the WH renovations are done?
CNN International ticker now reporting that a tremor off the Alaskan coast has "triggered a local tsunami about 5cm high." Slow news day?
July 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
CNN International ticker now reporting that a tremor off the Alaskan coast has "triggered a local tsunami about 5cm high." Slow news day?
Proof that everything is more fun in pidgin -- a welfare analysis of tariffs, which asks the crucial question, "Why tariff still dey?" 1/3
July 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Proof that everything is more fun in pidgin -- a welfare analysis of tariffs, which asks the crucial question, "Why tariff still dey?" 1/3
50 years later, Ekeh's "two publics" reconsidered?
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
Real Nigerian #theme #song. How #nigerian are you?
YouTube video by NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY
youtu.be
July 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
50 years later, Ekeh's "two publics" reconsidered?
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
Good work by the Ghanaian diaspora:
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
July 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Good work by the Ghanaian diaspora:
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
Ackman-Sock drop first set in ATP Newport Challenger in 21 minutes.
July 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Ackman-Sock drop first set in ATP Newport Challenger in 21 minutes.
It says, "Your tariff has been raised to 25%. Thank you for your consideration."
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It says, "Your tariff has been raised to 25%. Thank you for your consideration."
An American classic for the Fourth -- going back to the good old days when X was just a letter and a band. (Maybe recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor?)
Happy 4th! 🎆 We'll be listening to Dave Alvin's "4th of July," specifically the live version of him performing with The Guilty Ones back in 2013.
Watch the video here: youtu.be/n6N57snnJrA
Watch the video here: youtu.be/n6N57snnJrA
Dave Alvin - "4th of July" (Live)
#DaveAlvin #DeadTracksVol2 #YepRocRecords
youtu.be
July 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
An American classic for the Fourth -- going back to the good old days when X was just a letter and a band. (Maybe recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor?)
With Perricard and Diallo in the first two rounds, Taylor Fritz has to be wondering what a 5-seed is worth at Wimbledon these days.
July 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
With Perricard and Diallo in the first two rounds, Taylor Fritz has to be wondering what a 5-seed is worth at Wimbledon these days.
Around the post, break point down in the deciding set of the men's doubles final at the French Open. Zeballos!
June 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Around the post, break point down in the deciding set of the men's doubles final at the French Open. Zeballos!
Here is an estimate of the effects of US cuts on my university -- Wits University in Johannesburg. groundup.org.za/article/wits...
![Wits has estimated that the funding cuts could reduce its overall research output — measured in publications, clinical trials, and other academic activities — by up to 30%. This will be felt across faculties, with research in health science the most affected. Of the Wits Health Consortium’s grant income of R3.5-billion [roughly $200 million], 42% comes from US government funded agreements.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zw5raps4c52n5zlwanwlte2w/bafkreih5x7iceofx7gabaivxzgvgvjjzhlgmd2usbwjl5rbgt4kywi4wny@jpeg)
June 4, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Here is an estimate of the effects of US cuts on my university -- Wits University in Johannesburg. groundup.org.za/article/wits...
Alcaraz going full Jailhouse Rock at Roland Garros tonight.
May 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Alcaraz going full Jailhouse Rock at Roland Garros tonight.
Reposted by Rod Alence
To paraphrase Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya: we survived the "TV show" (Oval Office event) and went on to have a constructive bilateral meeting (private lunch) -- the latter being the primary objective of the SA delegation.
May 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
To paraphrase Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya: we survived the "TV show" (Oval Office event) and went on to have a constructive bilateral meeting (private lunch) -- the latter being the primary objective of the SA delegation.
Fact check
FACT CHECK | Donald Trump presented Cyril Ramaphosa with a collection of misinformation | News24
During an extraordinary meeting at the White House on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a collection of misinformation.
www.news24.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Fact check
Reposted by Rod Alence
My initial reaction -- a diplomatic masterclass by Cyril Ramaphosa. Calm and calculated responses to a very difficult setting and meeting today
May 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My initial reaction -- a diplomatic masterclass by Cyril Ramaphosa. Calm and calculated responses to a very difficult setting and meeting today