Stupor, National Parks and Close

Weekend Passport 03.15

Passport 03.15

Coming up next week, our Field Guide will be about “Back to School” and we want to hear from you. Share your favorite memories, current homework hacks or anything else that springs to mind. You can comment below or respond to this email. We’ll share our favorite responses in next week’s Field Guide and if you’re selected, you’ll get a free copy of our Chicago guide. We can’t wait to hear about memorable school bus tales, cafeteria mishaps or anything else you’re up to sharing.

Listen: Stupor

Joseph Kamaru whose artist name is KMRU, is a Kenyan music producer and sound artist. Kamaru was born in Nairobi and is now based in Berlin, plays with sound as a “sensorial medium through which social, material and conceptual interpretations are manifested in his works.” KMRU’s career took off for his work as a house/techno DJ and later transitioned into producing ambient music. His 2023 album Stupor uses field recordings of Nairobi and consists of three longform songs. Wind down and get transported elsewhere while listening to Stupor here on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube. 

Watch: La Noire de...

"3. La noire de" by Festival de Cine Africano FCAT is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Still of Mbissine Thérèse Diop as Diouana in Black Girl, written and directed by Ousmane Sembene.

Immerse yourself in the world of classic African cinema with La Noire de... (Black Girl), a pioneering 1966 film by Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène. This powerful drama tells the story of a young Senegalese woman who moves to France for work, only to face racism and exploitation. La Noire de… was the first African film to win the Prix Jean Vigo and it is considered the first sub-Saharan African feature film to garner international recognition. It's a compelling and important piece of cinema that offers a poignant commentary on post-colonial identity. You can watch La Noire de… here on Plex or on Max.

Listen: Gaze At the National Parks